Bio-management of Meloidogyne graminicola by Trichoderma harzianum and T. virens in rice

A net house study was conducted to test the bio-efficacy of Trichoderma harzianum and T. virens against rice root knot nematode Meloidogyne graminicola on rice. The results revealed that either T. harzianum or T. virens was applied one week prior to nematode inoculation at 4 and 8 g dose/kg soil. There was significant improvement in plant growth characters and suppression in number of galls and number of M. graminicola larvae penetrated/plant as well as final nematode population in soil compared to only nematode inoculated check. Both the bioagents when applied in soil one week after nematode inoculation was significantly effective in improving plant growth and reducing number of galls and larval penetration/plant root system. Out of two methods of opportunist fungi application in soil, the pre-nematode fungus application method was more effective.