Combined application of Pochonia chlamydosporia and solid by-product of the wine industry for the control of Meloidogyne java']javanica

Pochonia chlamydosporia is one of the most studied biological control agents of plant-parasitic nematodes. Soil amendment with agro-industrial residues may also suppress nematodes and improve plant growth. Therefore, the combined application of P. chlamydosporia and organic residues may enhance the control of nematodes. This study was designed to evaluate whether the integrated use of Pochonia chlamydosporia and the solid by-product of the wine industry (SBWI) controls Meloidogyne javanica. In greenhouse trials, SBWI (30 g kg(-1) of air-dry soil) was applied to the soil with chlamydospores (500; 1500; 2500; 3500; 4500 and 5000 chlamydospores g(-1) of airdry soil) or colonised rice grains with mycelia and conidia of P. chlamydosporia (2.5; 5; 10 and 15 g kg(-1) of air-dry soil). In laboratory, we assessed the effect of SBWI on the development of P. chlamydosporia. SBWI reduced the mycelial growth and sporulation of P. chlamydosporia in vitro. However, the integrated use of SBWI with the fungus increased tomato growth and reduced the number of galls and eggs of M. javanica per gram of tomato root in the greenhouse conditions, mainly when the fungus was applied at a rate of 3500 chlamydospores g(-1) of soil and 15 g of colonised rice kg(-1) of soil. In conclusion, the integrated use of P. chlamydosporia and SBWI controls M. javanica.