Evaluation of Pseudomonas fluorescens isolates for control of Meloidogyne incognita in black pepper (Piper nigrum L.)

Abstract

Thirty isolates of fluorescent psedomonads, isolated from the rhizoplane of black pepper, were tested for their interaction with root knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita), in two trials under green house conditions. Blade pepper OJ' seedlings were treated with the bacterial suspension of Pseudomonas fluorescens alone or P. fluorescens followed by second stage juveniles of M.incognita. Plants treated with M. incognita along and, those treated with neither bacteria nor nematodes served as controls. Growth of the seedlings and nematode infestation were assessed two months and three months after inoculation in the first and second. trial, respectively. None of the isolates could give absolute protection against M. incognita infestation. However, isolates No.. 10, 14, 17 and 31 reduced the nematode damage significantly and isolates No. 2,0, 27, 33 promoted the growth of the seedlings though they had no effect on nematodes.