EFFECT OF BIOLOGICAL AGENTS AND BOTANICALS IN CONTROLLING ROOT KNOT NEMATODES, MELOIDOGYNE SPP., IN NICOTIANA TABACUM

Abstract

A study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of Pseudomonas fluorescens and Trichoderma viride and two botanicals; ground neem seed and tobacco waste dust for the control of Root-Knot Nematodes (RKN) in Tobacco. Suppression of RKN was examined under field condition by estimating root knots and parasitic nematode counts. Seedling density, fresh weight, dry weight, shoot length and root length of tobacco also were measured to evaluate the growth performance. Results indicated that of all bio-preparations, ground neem seed treatment has suppressed the RKN to the best level express ing least number of root-knots and parasitic nematodes. Tobacco waste treatment found to be the se cond best followed by the treatment with P. fluorescens. Although T. viride has not controlled the infec tion, it has significantly improved the seedling density and vegetative growth. Further experiments should be conducted to determine the combined effect of these bio-preparations.