Biomanagement of Reniform Nematode, Rotylenchulus reniformis by Fruit Wastes and Paecilomyces lilacinus on Chickpea

Fruit wastes of apple (Malus pumila), banana (Musa paradisiaca), papaya (Carica papaya), pomegranate (Punica granatum) and sweet orange (Citrus sinesis) @ 20g/plant and the fungal biocontrol agent Paecilomyces lilacinus @ 2g (mycelium+spores)/plant, alone and in combination were evaluated for the management of reniform nematode, Rotylenchulus reniformis infecting chickpea under glasshouse conditions. The individual applications of fruit wastes of sweet orange and fungal biocontrol agent P. lilacinus significantly (P= 0.05) reduced the nematode multiplication of R. reniformis, which ultimately increased the plant growth of chickpea as against the plant inoculated with R. reniformis alone. The rest of the fruit wastes did not significantly improved the plant growth as compared to plants inoculated with R. reniformis. The best protection of chickpea against R. reniformis was recorded on the integration of P. lilacinus with fruit wastes of papaya followed by apple and pomegranate, which ultimately increased the plant growth and reduced population buildup of reniform nematode. The integration of P.lilacinus with fruit wastes of either sweet orange or banana did not significantly improved the plant growth and reduced nematode multiplication as compared to the individual application of P. lilacinus..