The effect of some biopesticides on the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid & White, 1919) Chitwood, 1949 (Tylenchida: Meloidogynidae) damaging tomato plants

In recent years, biopesticides have been widely investigated for the control of plant parasitic nematodes (PPN). In this study, the effects of Bacillus-based biopesticides on the root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) (Kofoid & White, 1919) Chitwood, 1949 (Tylenchida: Meloidogynidae) were investigated. The study was conducted at the Nematology Laboratory and Growth Room of the Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University in 2023. The efficacy of Bacillus subtilis (Biopesticide-I), Bacillus licheniformis strain RTI184 (Biopesticide-II) and Paecilomyces lilacinus strain 251 (Biopesticide-III) was compared with chemical nematicides and an untreated control. Treatments were applied at different times: (A) 5-7 days before transplanting, (B) at transplant by drench, (C) just after transplanting, and (D) 14 days after transplanting (DAT). The lowest gal formation was observed in Biopesticide-III + Nematicide-II (CD) treatment (0.40±0.24), followed by Nematicide-I (CD) (3.40±0.24) and Biopesticide-I (BD) (4.20±0.37), while the highest was observed in Biopesticide-I (CD) (5.00±0.31). The number of second-stage juveniles was significantly reduced by Biopesticide-III + Nematicide-II (CD) (99.76%), Nematicide-I (CD) (70.29%) and Biopesticide-I (BD) (57.36%). The results indicate that Bacillus-based biopesticides are effective in reducing root-knot nematode damage and can be used to control M. incognita in tomato plants.