Efficacy of Bacterial Parasite, Pasteuria penetrans Application as Nursery Soil Treatment against Root-Knot Nematode, Meloidogyne javanica infecting Tomato in Different Seasons

Efficacy of bacterial parasite, Pasteuria penetrans application as nursery soil treatment against Meloidogyne javanica was tested in two seasons. In summer season (mean maximum temperature of 34.5° C and minimum 26.4° C) higher doses of P.penetrans (8x10⁴ and 10x10⁴ endospores per g soil) resulted in better seedling germination and improved fresh weight of seedlings. All the doses of P. penetrans caused significant reduction in galling and were also equally effective in suppressing nematode egg production. The two highest doses of 8x10⁴ and 10x10⁴ caused up to 70% nematode infection. Similar experiment during winter season did not produce any tangible results.