Comparative efficacy of Trichoderma harzianum, neem extract and furadan on Meloidogyne incognita infecting tomato plant growth

Root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid White) Chitwood is the virulent pathogen of tomato plants. The artificial inoculation of M. incognita developed a large number of galls and suppressed the tomato plant growth significantly. Three different concentrations of neem extract, furadan and Trichoderma harzianum were evaluated to control the M. incognita. All concentrations proved effective in reducing the disease development in nematode inoculated tomato plants. However, high dose of furadan became phytotoxic and plant growth was checked together with a number of galls. While, higher doses of neem extract and T. harzianum improved the plant growth. The combined applications of neem extract, furadan and T. harzianum were more effective than alone. In combined application also, the higher dose of furadan caused negative effects on plant growth. Present studies showed that incorporation of biocontrol agent like T. harzianum and botanical products such as neem extract against root-knot nematode provided good results and can provide an alternate of chemical pesticides which will be ecofriendly as well.