Mass production of Pochonia chlamydosporia var. catenulata and its efficiency for controlling root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) in tomato

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to examine the culture media and substrate for supporting the growth of the fungus, Pochonia chlamydosporia var. catenulata (P.c.c.) and evaluating its efficiency for controlling the root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) in tomato. Six culture media and three substrates were tested on hyphal growth of P.c.c.. The result showed that corn meal agar was the best medium for cultivation of P.c.c. and the biomass of P.c.c. could be produced in large quantities in broken rice seeds. For efficiency in controlling tomato root-knot nematode in a screened house, P.c.c. could significantly control 6.25% of the root gall in tomato compared with the control. In a micro-plot experiment, the results showed that P.c.c. could reduce root gall in tomatoes significantly (P<0.01) at 2.22% while the control showed 24.22% root gall.