Pathogenicity of Selected Antagonistic Soil Fungi on Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid & White) Eggs and Egg Masses under in Vitro and in Vivo Conditions

Abstract

Four indigenous antagonistic fungi belonging to 3 species, Gliocladium virens Miller Giddens & Foster, Paecilomyces lilacinus (Thon) Samson, Trichoderina harzianum Rifai and T. viride Pers. Ex S. F. Gray evaluated for their pathogenicity to eggs and egg masses of Meloidogyne incognita, in vitro through the Petri-dish assay and in vivo under glasshouse conditions were found pathogenic. Under both the conditions, maximum egg mass and egg parasitization was observed to be by P. lilacinus followed by T. viride, G. virens and T. harizianum. There was a general decline in parasitization by these fungi, under in vivo conditions compared to that under in vitro conditions. Fungal colonization in galled roots was higher than in healthy roots. Comparatively T. viride and G. virens recorded higher root colonization closely followed by P. lilacinus. Among the four fungi, P. lilacinus recorded consistently higher pathogenicity against root-knot nematodes both in vitro and in vivo conditions, indicating that P. lilacinus was more efficient against root-knot nematodes compared to other species.