Approaches for management of Meloidogyne incognita in pulses

Abstract

Meloidogyne incognita can be effectively managed through biological control agents. The present study on the bio-intensive management of M. incognita on blackgram with bio-agents, viz. Bacillus marisflavi, Bacillus altitudinis, Bacillus subtilis, Trichoderma viride, Verticillium lecanii and Pseudomonas fluorescens as soil application was carried out under net house conditions at the Department of Nematology, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam under controlled conditions during the winter (rabi) season of 2020-21. Treatment with soil application of Pseudomonas fluorescens @1 × 108 cfu/ml enriched in vermicompost @20 g/m2 was found to be the most effective in enhancing plant growth parameters, number of nodules per root system and reducing the number of galls per root system, egg masses per root system and final root-knot nematode population in the soil. Given the importance of pulses in maintaining national food and nutritional security, as well as the importance of root-knot nematode as a limiting factor in pulse production, biological agents for nematode control are a viable alternative to pesticides. Biocontrol agents studied help in attaining favourable plant growth and health, therefore considered a more promising management practice against root-knot nematode.