Bioagents for Management of Plant Parasitic Nematodes

Fungal bioagents

1.Paecilomyces lilacinus

•    Soil borne fungus
•     Good root colonizers and rhizosphere competitor
•     Parasitic on nematodes egg
•    Antagonistic to juvenile stages
•    Suppress nematode population density and increase crop yields

2.Pachonia chlaydosporium

•    Soil borne fungus
•     Colonize on plant roots or confined to rhizoplane
•     Parasitic on nematodes egg
•     Produce toxins that inhibit hatching or kill eggs of nematodes
•     Parasite of female root-knot nematodes

3. Trichoderma viride and Trichoderma harzianum

•    Active rhizosphere colonizers
•    Compete for nutrients
•    Produce antibiotics that affect nematodes

Bacterial bioagents

1. Pseudomonas fluorescens and Bacillus subtilis

•    Colonize on roots and exclude nematode niche
•    Produce antibiotic compounds
•    Induce systemic resistance in plant

2. Pasteuria penetrans

•    Nematode antagonists and endospore-forming bacteria
•    Obligate parasites of plant-parasitic nematodes
•    Endo-parasite, reduce infectivity and also fecundity

Advantage of using bio-control agents

•    Cost effective, reusable, farmer & eco-friendly products
•    Inherently harmless in comparison with chemical pesticides
•    As a component of IPM, can greatly decrease the use of chemical pesticides
•    Increase the yield of the crop & lead to sustainable productivity in a long run
•    They have specific mode of action on pathogens
•    Helps in developing disease suppressive soils

How to enhance biological suppressiveness

•    1. Incorporation of crop residues in the soil
•    2. Addition of organic amendment such as manures and compost
  •        i. Stimulate natural antagonist/ natural enemies of plant parasitic nematodes
  •        ii. It improves soil nutrients, soil physical conditions, and crop health

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Biocontrol agents for important pathogens