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SEED DRESSING WITH BIOCONTROL AGENTS AND NEMATICIDES FOR THE CONTROL OF ROOT KNOT NEMATODE ON SUNFLOWER AND OKRA

SHAHNAZ DAWAR, A. SATTAR AND M.J. ZAKI

Abstract: Application of biocontrol agents viz., Rhizobium meliloti, Bacillus thuringiensis, Aspergillus niger, Trichoderma harzianum and nematicides viz., fertinemakil, vermox as seed dressing for the reduction of Meloidogyne javanica infection on sunflower and okra was examined. In vitro experiments, maximum reduction in hatching of M. javanica egg was observed in R. meliloti aqueous extract whereas T. harzianum showed significant mortality of second stage juveniles of M. javanica. In vivo experiment the biocontrol agents and nematicides coated with sugar, mollasses, glucose and gum arabic used @ 1 and 2% significantly reduced the infection of root knot nematode on okra and sunflower roots. An increase in concentration of coating materials significantly enhanced the germination and growth parameters in terms of shoot length, shoot weight, root length and root weight on both okra and sunflower plants. Of the different microbial antagonists and nematicides used, T. harzianum and fertinemakil were found more effective followed by R. meliloti, B. thuringiensis, vermox and A. niger in the control of root knot nematode.

Department of Botany, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan