Nematophagous mushrooms can be an alternative to control Meloidogyne javanica

Tomato is a vegetable of great economic importance; however, it is extremely affected by nematodes of the genus Meloidogyne. Control of these nematodes can be performed using nematophagous fungi. Some of these nematophagous fungi are mushrooms, in which the production residue has potential to control nematodes. In this context, the aims for this study were to verify: i) the ovicidal, nematicidal and nematistatic potential of metabolites retained in the liquid mushroom culture medium on Meloidogyne javanica; ii) the ovicidal, nematicidal and nematistatic potential of the aqueous extract of culture substrates of mushroom species on M. javanica and iii) the interaction of the mushroom mycelium and M. javanica juveniles. Twenty-four mushroom isolates distributed in 15 different species were tested, being cultivated in liquid medium and sawdust, and their respective filtrates and extracts were then used as treatments for M. javanica. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test, comparing the frequencies of treatments with controls. In this work, the control potential of M. javanica with the use of mushrooms was verified. Lentinula edodes, Macrocybe titans and Pleurotus eryngii isolates presented potential to control M. javanica in all tests performed.