Tropentag, October 7 - 9, 2008 in Hohenheim "Competition for Resources in a Changing World: New Drive for Rural Development"

Sequential Application of Antagonists for the Biological Control of the Burrowing Nematode Radopholus similis in Banana

University of Bonn, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation-Plant Pathology, Germany

Abstract

Recent work suggests that the combination of different biocontrol agents with different modes of action could be more effective for the control of nematodes than individual application. The aim of this work was to determine the biocontrol effects of single or sequential applications of the mutualistic endophyte Fusarium oxysporum strain 162 (5×10⁶ and 1×10⁷ spores/plant), the eggs pathogen Paecilomyces lilacinus strain 251 (1.8 ×10⁷ conidia/g soil) and the antagonistic bacteria Bacillus firmus (2 g of product/plant) toward Radopholus similis in banana in pot trials under greenhouse conditions. The single or combined application of fungus-fungus or fungus-bacteria was shown to reduce R. similis penetration and reproduction. The combination of F. oxysporum and P. lilacinus caused a 68.5% reduction in nematode density in the root system, whereas the individual applications reduced the density by 27.8% and 54.8% over the control, respectively. Satisfactory results were also obtained with sequential application of F. oxysporum and B. firmus. The combined treatments reduced the density of R. similis up to 86.2%, followed by 63.7 4% and 32.7%, with a single application of B. firmus or P. lilacinus, respectively. The combination of P. lilacinus and B. firmus increased significantly the biocontrol of R. similis, compared with the single applications of the agents and the absolute control. The density of nematode in the root system was reduced to 91% with mixed inoculations of both biocontrol agents. Meanwhile, the single applications of P. lilacinus or B. firmus reduced R. similis population up to 58% and 67%, respectively. The compatibility of the biocontrol agents, as well the capacity of F. oxysporum to colonize banana roots in absence and presence of P. lilacinus or B. firmus was also investigated. P. lilacinus or B. firmus did not adversely affect endophytic colonisation by F. oxysporum. It can be concluded that biological control of R. similis in banana can be enhanced via sequential application of antagonist with different modes of action that target different stages in the infection process.

Keywords: Bacillus firmus, bacteria, combined applications, endophytic, fungi, Fusarium oxysporum, Musa, Paecilomyces lilacinus

Contact Address: Alexander R. Mendoza Luna, University of Bonn, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation-Plant Pathology, Nussallee 9, 53115 Bonn, Germany, e-mail: mendozaal66yahoo.com