Evaluation of beneficial fungi in combination with organics against root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, in FCV tobacco nurseries

FCV tobacco is an important commercial crop grown in Karnataka under rain fed situations. Root-knot nematode is a limiting factor causing yield reduction in both nursery and main field crop to the tune of 59.4% and 52.9%, respectively. As an alternative to nematicides of chemical origin, beneficial fungi such as Paecilomyces lilacinus and Glomus fasciculatum were evaluated along with organic amendments viz., neem cake and vermicompost as individual application and also in rational combinations against Meloidogyne incognita in FCV tobacco nurseries. Results revealed that application of P. lilacinus strain NBAII PLFT5 @ 100g/m² recorded 31.3% increase in healthy transplants compared to check. Combined application of P. lilacinus with neem cake @ 1kg/m² recorded 34.4% increase in healthy transplants count and was on par with P. lilacinus with vermicompost @ 1kg/m². Application of P. lilacinus + neem cake @ 1kg/m² and P. lilacinus + vermicompost @ 1kg/m² significantly reduced root-knot index to 1.89 compared to 2.05 in carbofuran @ 50g/m² treated beds (standard chemical check) and 3.86 in untreated check. Similarly, these two treatments were on par with each other in significantly reducing the number of egg masses/g root and final soil nematode population.