Evaluating Bacillus spp. As Biocontrol Agents against Meloidogyne incognita Infesting Tomato

Authors
B. S. Kavya 1
T. R. Kavitha 2
Arati 3
N. L. Kumar 3
1 Department of Plant Pathology, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bengaluru-65, Karnataka, India.
2 AICRP (Nematodes) Laboratory, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bengaluru-65, Karnataka, India.
3 Department of Agricultural Microbiology, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bengaluru-65, Karnataka, India.
10.48311/jast.2025.24125
Abstract
Tomato is a global host for root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita), soliciting ponderous damage. Using bio-control agents to control plant parasitic nematodes is a well-established, green approach in advance of synthetic nematicides. The role of Bacillus spp. in inciting physiological and biochemical alterations in nematode infestation is discussed in the present study. The susceptible (PKM-1) and resistant (Hisar Lalit) tomato cultivars treated with Bacillus pumilus augmented the shoot length, root length and biomass of plants compared to the standard check, Pseudomonas fluorescens, followed by B. megaterium. Accordingly, all the bio-control agent-treated susceptible plants showed reduced galling and exhibited a root gall index of 3 (moderately resistant) and reduced nematode population in soil and roots. Contrarily, all the resistant plants showed highly resistant reactions. B. pumilus showed the topmost expression of all the biochemical enzymes like Peroxidase (PO), Polyphenol Oxidase (PPO), Catalase (CAT), Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase (PAL), and total phenols. Conclusively, B. pumilus was found to be the most potential in reducing nematode infestation by embellishing the plant growth and enhancing defence-related enzymes in tomatoes.

Keywords

Subjects

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Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology
Volume 27, Issue 5
July and August 2025
Pages 1109-1122