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Abstract
Greenhouse experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of five arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in combination with bioformulated Paecilomyces lilacinus (PL Gold™) against Meloidogyne incognita on tomato in two Ultisols in Nigeria. Root galling and egg production were higher in Calabar than Nsukka Ultisols. P. lilacinus application did not inhibit tomato root colonisation by any of the AMF. Double application of PL Gold™ in combination with Glomus etunicatum caused a significant change in the susceptibility of the tomato cultivar with a gall index (GI) =4.00 to (GI=2.00) in Nsukka Ultisol, while a similar result was obtained with Glomus mosseae, G. deserticola and G. etunicatum in Calabar Ultisols (GI=2.33). Application of both biocontrol agents significantly (P≤0.05) enhanced growth and yield of tomato plants. The highest fresh fruit yield was obtained in Calabar soil when Gi. gigantea was combined with double application of the bionematicide while the same result was obtained with G. deserticola in Nsukka soil.
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to Biological Control Products South Africa (Pty.) Ltd. for allowing their products to be tested in Nigeria. We also acknowledge Mrs. Giwa of Soil Microbiology unit, Department of Agronomy, University of Ibadan, for providing starter cultures of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The co-operation by Nigeria Plant Quarantine Service in the procurement of PL Gold™ is also acknowledged. The first author is grateful to the University of Calabar for granting him a Ph.D study fellowship and financial support for the research.