Management of Root-Knot Nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, in Tomato with Two Trichoderma Species

In the present studies comparative effectiveness of two antagonistic fungi viz. Trichoderma harzianum and T. viride were evaluated against Meloidogyne incognita on tomato. The application of T. harzianum and T. viride significantly increased shoot weight and decreased root weight of tomato in a dose dependent manner. Doses of 8x10(3) and 1x10(4) cfu/g of soil showed maximum increase in shoot weight and decrease in root weight. On the other hand, both the antagonistic fungi caused significant reductions in number of galls, egg masses, eggs per egg mass and reproductive factors of M. incognita in a dose dependent manner. Both the fungi caused the maximum reductions in these parameters at two highest doses of 8x10(3) and 1x10(4) cfu/g of soil. The increases or reductions were slightly greater with T. harzianum than those with T. viride. It is, therefore, concluded from the present evaluation that the indigenous isolates of T. harzianum and T. viride have the potential to control M. incognita.