Biocontrol of Root-Knot Nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) using Trichoderma harzianum on Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L. MILL)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the Teaching and Research farm of the University of Ilorin, Ilorin to investigate the effectiveness of a biocontrol antagonist ( Trichoderma harzianum) in the control of plant parasitic nematodes on two varieties (UC 82B and ROMA-VF) of tomato. Trichoderma treatment resulted in significant higher plant height, number of leaves, length and breadth of leaves, number of flowers and fruit weight as compared with the untreated control. The treatment significantly reduced the nematode population at harvest when compared with the population in no – Trichoderma treated plot. Thus, the treatment of the soil with the antagonistic fungus improved nematode control as the isolate significantly reduced the nematode populations. The fungus enhanced plant growth and yield in all the treated plots.

Keywords: root-knot nematodes, Trichoderma harzianum, biocontrol, variety