Post-infection development of Meloidogyne incognita on tomato treated with the endophytes Fusarium oxysporum strain Fo162 and Rhizobium etli strain G12

The endophytic fungus Fusarium oxysporum strain Fo162 and the endophytic bacterium Rhizobium etli strain G12 have been shown to enhance plant resistance toward the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita. The individual inoculation of tomato seedlings with these antagonists lead to significant reductions in the number of juveniles that penetrated the root and ultimately the number of galls and egg-masses produced. The present study determined the influence of Fo162 and G12 root colonization on juvenile development inside the root system over time after a synchronized nematode infection. The results showed that 14 and 21 days after nematode inoculation, the development into the third-stage juvenile as well as into the adult-stage was significantly lower in endophyte-treated plants when compared to the untreated control, respectively. In addition, Fo162 and G12 treatment led to a significant reduction in the number of eggs per female 35 days after nematode inoculation. The results demonstrated that both Fo162 and G12 not only reduce M. incognita root penetration, but also reduce their development and reproduction.