Evaluation of Paecilomyces lilacinus for the Management of Root-Knot Nematode, Meloidogyne incognita in Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) Tobacco Nursery

Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco is a major commercial crop grown in light soil regions of Karnataka. Root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne incognita is a major threat to the successful production causing heavy yield and quality loss. Nematicide like carbofuran is being used against this nematode, but with limited efficacy. Extensive use of pesticides of chemical origin especially in higher doses for nematode control has to be avoided due to higher costs and associated hazards to the environment. Replicated trials were conducted with varied dosage levels of Paecilomyces lilacinus against the nematode in FCV tobacco nursery raised in root-knot nematode sick plots. Results revealed that at the time of final pulling, P. lilacinus @ 30g/m² recorded significantly increased total healthy transplants count of 857.5/m² and was on par with P. lilacinus @ 25g/m² (845.1/m¹. Similarly at 60 DAS, applications of P. lilacinus @ 30g/m² and @ 25g/m² were on par with each other in recording the significantly reduced RKI of 1.81 and 1.88 respectively. Both the treatments were also on par with combined application P. lilacinus @ 30g/m² + Carbofuran @ 10g/m², which recorded the significantly reduced RKI of 1.81 compared to untreated check (3.86).