Effect of mass culture and spore suspension of Dactylaria brochopaga on growth of eggplant and population of the root-gall nematode, Meloidogyne incognita

In vitro test, among five isolates of Dactylaria brochopaga, isolate D showed maximum induction of constricting also maximum % capturing of second stage juveniles (J2s) of Meloidogyne incognita in duel culture. In turn, isolate D was mass cultured on sorghum grains for further experiments. The effects of mass culture, undiluted and diluted spore suspensions of A brochopaga (isolate D) was studied with and without cow dung manure (CDM) on the growth of eggplant and population of M. incognita. The application of mass culture @ 1%, its spore suspension (undiluted) and diluted spore suspension (10 times) in soil infested with 1500 juveniles of M. incognita per “kg” before planting of eggplant seedlings reduced the number of root-galls by 31.1–57.9%, of females by 24.2–49.9%, of egg masses by 22.1–42.9% and of juveniles by 30.8–60.7% and increased the plant growth in pot experiments. The performance of isolate D of D. brochopaga as bio-agent was enhanced when its mass culture and spore suspensions were applied with CDM which reduced the number of root-galls by 48.5–74.8%, of females by 43.5–64.8%, of egg masses by 38.7–68.8% and of juveniles by 48.1–78.6%. Moreover, diluted spore suspension of the fungus also increased the growth of eggplants and reduced the population of M. incognita significantly.