Management of Meloidogyne incognita on tomato by root-dip treatment in culture filtrate of the blue-green alga, Microcoleus vaginatus

The nematicidal potential of culture filtrates of the blue-green alga, Microcoleus vaginatus (Cyanobacterium) was tested against Meloidogyne incognita on tomato in pots under greenhouse conditions. Prior to the transplantation of tomato seedling, roots were dipped in different concentrations (0.2%, 0.5%,1%, 2%,10%,50% and 100%) of culture filtrate of M. vaginatus for 30 min. Root-dip treatment reduced the root galling and final population of M. incognita and increased vegetative growth of plants and root-mass production compared with the control. The beneficial effect of root-dip treatment increased with the increase in the concentration of culture filtrate. Root galling and final nematode populations were reduced by 65.9% and 97.5%, respectively when treated at the highest concentration. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.