Biomanagement of Root-Knot Nematode, Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White) Chitwood in Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.)

Investigations were undertaken under field conditions to assess the effect of bioagents viz., PGPR, Pseudomonas fluorescens (Pf), the antagonistic fungus, Trichoderma viride, the nematode repellant crop, the African marigold, Tagetus erecta, organic amendment, neem cake, a combination of them with the standard check, carbofuran against root knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita infecting tomato (var. PKM 1). During the first season trial conducted during October 2011 to March 2012, intercropping tomato plants with Tagetus (for every two rows of tomato) and Pf seed treatment (@ 10g/kg seed) was found to be the most effective treatments in terms of highest reduction in nematode population which also recorded higher yield of 46.74 ton/ha and 42.57 ton/ha respectively with a C: B ratio of 1: 4.65 and 1: 4.19. However, it was on par with soil application of Pf. In the trial conducted during July 2012 to November 2012, the combined treatment of seed treatment with Pf (10g/kg seed), soil application of Pf (@ 2.5kg/ha mixed with 50 kg of FYM at the time of planting) + neem cake (@125g kg/ha) + intercropping with Tagetus (for every two rows of tomato) recorded the highest reduction of nematode population by recording the increased yield of 24.56 ton/ha with a CB ratio of 1: 4.50. This schedule was considered as the ideal IPM module for tomato. The lowest yield of 6.45 tons/ha was recorded in untreated plot.