Effect of Streptomyces purpeofuscus MTCC 6473 on juvenile invasion, development and reproduction of Meloidogyne incognita infecting Tomato and its effect on plant growth.

All the treatments reduced the nematode invasion and development in the crop, 83.9 % reduction in nematode invasion with soil drench (2% v/w) of the actinomycete was on par with 86.1 % reduction with carbofuran.. The average number of eggmasses/plant root and the final J2 population in the soil was significantly lower in carbofuran treated plants, compared to actinomycete applications. However, significant suppression of root galling (62.3%), number of egg masses (60.4%)/root and nematode multiplication rate (0.61) were observed along with a significant increase in shoot length, shoot fresh weight and shoot dry weight of tomato, compared to untreated inoculated control, especially in soil drench at 2% v/w and root dip treatment for 60 min. The observations supported the nematode antagonistic potential of the actinomycete resulting in improvement of plant health.