Pathogenicity of Verticillium epiphytum isolates against Meloidogyne javanica

Abstract

The fungus Verticillium epiphytum has been isolated recently from sugar beet cyst nematodes in Iran. However, there is no published evidence on its potential to infect nematode eggs and cysts. We first compared the pathogenicity of different isolates of V. epiphytum to nematode eggs in vitro. Infection and hatching rate of eggs were recorded. The most effective isolate was selected for a greenhouse test, and its ability to control Meloidogyne javanica was examined in a natural soil. The fresh weight of plant tops and roots, gall index, nematode reproduction, control efficacy, proportion of infected eggs, root colonization and fungal colony-forming units were determined. In the in vitro test, all tested isolates reduced egg hatching and infected nematode eggs (43–90%). V epiphytum showed moderate ability to infect M. javanica eggs in vivo.

Keywords:

• biological control
• egg parasitism
• Meloidogyne javanica
• root-knot nematodes
• Verticillium epiphytum