Management of Meloidogyne incognita by Pseudomonas fluorescens and Trichoderma viride in Mulberry

The efficacy of commercial formulations of the plant growth promoting rhizobacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens and the antagonistic fungus Trichoderma viride on the ischolar_main-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, infesting mulberry, Morus alba, were evaluated under field conditions. The effects of applications to the soil of formulations of the bio-control agents, alone and in combination at the rates of 3 and 6 g/plot, were compared with those of the nematicide carbofuran 3G at the rate of 1 kg a.i./ha and controls. The combination of P. fluorescens (6 g/plot) and T. viride (6 g/plot) was effective in reducing the population ofM. incognita in soil and ischolar_main and suppressing ischolar_main-galling of mulberry. This treatment also improved shoot and ischolar_main development and increased leaf area, leaf contents of protein, nitrogen and chlorophyll, silkworm larval weight, cocoon weight, shell weight and shell ratio of silkworm larvae fed on leaves of mulberry infested with M. incognita.