Investigation of efficacy of some biological preparations against Meloidogyne incognita

Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are among the most important organisms that cause damage to cultivated plants. Different control methods are used against root-knot nematodes. Among these methods, biological control has come to the forefront with the increasing human health and environmental awareness in recent years. Fungi and bacteria are the most used biological control agents against root-knot nematodes. In our country, biological preparations of the licensed fungal agent BioAct (Purpureocillium lilacinum strain 251) and bacterial agent Majestene (Burkholderia rhinojensis strain A396) and biological preparations containing Abamectin active ingredient (Abamax and Tervigo) are used against root-knot nematodes. In this study, the effectiveness of biological organisms and biological preparations against M. incognita in three applications including three days before nematode inoculation, simultaneously with nematode inoculation and three days after nematode inoculation were investigated under the controlled conditions (24±1 oC temperature, 65% humidity and 16:8 photoperiod). Plants that were not applied any treatment and plants that were applied the chemical nematicide fluopyram (Velum Prime) were used as controls. Each preparation was conducted according to the randomized plot design with 5 replications and repeated twice. In addition, an application was made according to the label for biological organisms. When the susceptible tomato plant Tueza F1 seedlings reached the stage of three-four true leaves, 1000 second stage juveniles (J2s) of M. incognita were inoculated to each plant. Plants were removed 60 days after inoculation and the number of galls, egg masses, gall and egg mass scales formed on their roots and their reproductive potential were calculated. Statistical analyses of the obtained data was performed and the effectiveness of all preparations on M. incognita was compared. The study results indicate that further research should be conducted to determine the effectiveness of biological organisms.