Effect of different organic amendments on the parasitic behavior of Pasteuria penetrans for the management of Meloidogyne javanica infecting tomato

An experiment was conducted to assess the effect of organic amendments (neem cake, mustard cake, castor cake, and farmyard manure) on parasitic behavior of Pasteuria penetrans for the management of root knot-nematode, Meloidogyne javanica infecting tomato under screen house conditions. After one week, seedlings were inoculated with 1000 J2 of M. javanica encumbered with P. penetrans (at least 5-7 endospores of P. penetrans per juvenile). Organic amendments were applied at the rate of 10 g/pot, either individually or in combination with P. penetrans. Untreated (having nematode) and uninoculated (healthy) plants served as control. Each treatment was replicated three times. The results revealed that there was synergistic effect of bacteria and organic amendments in the management of M. javanica. The growth parameters of tomato were significantly increased by the combined application of P. penetrans @ 1x104 spores/g of soil and mustard cake @ 10 g/kg soil. Minimum number of galls, eggs per root system and final nematode population in 200 cc soil was recorded, where combined application of P. penetrans with mustard cake were applied. Overall assessment of the results of the present study suggested that amongst the four organic amendments tested, combined application of P. penetrans with mustard cake seemed to be more promising approach in the management of M. javanica in tomato nursery as it caused greater nematode suppression and improved plant growth parameters.