Control of Meloidogyne incognita on egg plant using Glomus mosseae integrated with Paecilomyces lilacinus and neem cake

An experiment was conducted to standardise a strategy of integrated management of the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, on egg plant under field conditions by a combination of the endomycorrhiza Glomus mosseae, the fungus Paecilomyces lilacinus and neem cake CAzadirachta indica). Nursery beds infested with M. incognita were amended with neem cake two weeks before the incorporation of G. mosseae or P. lilacinus, or both. Healthy and vigorous seedlings colonised with endomycorrhiza as well as the biocontrol fungus were obtained for transplanting. Transplants obtained from the nursery beds treated with neem cake + G. mosseae + P. lilacinus were least infected in the Held. The parasitization of eggs of root-knot nematode was significantly increased by P. lilacinus and the transplants yielded significantly more fruit. Neem cake amendment in the nursery beds played a positive role in increasing the colonization of endomycorrhiza and the biocontrol fungus on the roots of transplants before and after transplanting. The combined effect of these three components facilitated the sustainable management of M. incognita on egg plant under field conditions.