Susceptibility of root-knot and cyst nematodes to the nematode-trapping fungi Monacrosporium ellipsosporum and M. cionopagum

We compared the susceptibility of Meloidogyne javanica and Heterodera schachtii to the nematode-trapping fungi Monacrosporium ellipsosporum and M. cionopagum. The fungi were added in the form of fungal-colonized nematodes or hyphae pelletized in alginate to field soil in small vials. Suppression by the fungi was measured by comparing nematode invasion of roots in fungal treated and untreated soil. Meloidogyne javanica was much more susceptible than H. schachtii to both fungi, regardless of the form of fungal inoculum. Thus, when colonized nematodes were used as fungal inoculum, suppression of M. javanica and H. schachtii was 92 and 6% by M. ellipsosporum and 54 and 0% by M. cionopagum. Similarly, when pelletized hyphae were used, suppression of M. javanica and H. schachtii was 80 and 10% by M. ellipsosporum and 98 and 24% by M. cionopagum. In other tests, two additional populations of H. schachtii were relatively resistant and two additional species of root-knot nematode, M. incognita and M. chitwoodi, were relatively susceptible to these fungi. The results indicate that Meloidogyne spp in general are more susceptible than H. schachtii to M. ellipsosporum and M. cionopagum.