Nematicidal activity of Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) vuill against root knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita)

The pathogenic potential of Beauveria bassiana (bals.) Vuill was explored against Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White) Chitwood under laboratory condition using conidial suspensions @ 2.6×10⁶ conidia/mL (1x) with further dilutions. The mortality and inhibition of root-knot nematode eggs hatching were directly proportional to the concentration of B. bassiana culture filtrates. No egg hatching was observed at 1x (original concentration). There was a spike in eggs hatching with the increase in dilutions. The mortality of J₂ and inhibition of hatching of the nematode species were also directly proportional to the concentration of culture filtrate of B. bassiana. Soil drenching with culture filtrate of B. bassiana significantly reduced the population of nematodes in the soil and gall formation in tomato plants under pot conditions.