Biocontrol potential of endophytic bacteria on Meloidogyne incognita and its effect on plant growth in bhendi

Abstract

A random survey was conducted to obtain endophytic bacterial isolates in different agroecosystems comprising of ten districts in Tamil Nadu. Nineteen endophytic bacterial isolates were obtained from surface-sterilized roots of different crops. Study on the morphological, phenotypic and biochemical characterization of endophytic bacteria revealed that eight isolates viz., EB1 to EB8 belong to the group of Pseudomonas sp., ten isolates viz., EB9 to EB18 belong to the group of Bacillus sp. and isolate EB19 belongs to Methylobacterium sp. On seed bacterization with nineteen endophytic bacterial isolates, four isolates viz., EB3, EB16, EB18 and EB19 significantly enhanced the germination percentage, shoot and root length and vigour index of bhendi seedlings by roll towel technique and pot culture studies. Eight endophytic bacterial isolates were screened for their nematicidal action against Meloidogye incognita under pot culture conditions. The study revealed that the culture filtrates of endophytic bacterial isolates viz., EB3, EB16, EB18 and EB19 significantly reduced the number of adult females, egg masses, eggs/ eggmass, root and soil infestation of M. incognita. The lowest root gall index (1.00) was registered both in EB16 and EB18 isolates and it was followed by EB19 and EB3 (1.33) compared to untreated control (4.67). © JBiopest.