Field Efficacy of Pasteuria penetrans against Meloidogyne incognita infecting Tuberose

Abstract

Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) is a commercially important ornamental crop valued for its attractive flowers and pleasant fragrance. However, its productivity is severely affected by the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, which contribute to nearly 10% of global yield reduction in tuberose. The present study was undertaken to develop a water-soluble formulation (WSF) of Pasteuria penetrans and to evaluate its efficacy under both microplot and field conditions. Under microplot conditions, application of P. penetrans at 2ml WSF per plant significantly enhanced the plant growth, recording 42.5% increase in the shoot length and 55.64% in shoot weight compared with the untreated control. The field trial demonstrated that application of the WSF at 2ml per plant reduced the root gall formation and egg mass production by 28.5% and 19.5%, respectively. These findings indicate that the developed watersoluble formulation of P. penetrans has considerable potential as an effective biological management tool against root-knot nematodes and could be standardized for commercial application in tuberose cultivation.