Biocontrol Potential of Verticillium leptobactrum and Purpureocillium lilacinum Against Meloidogyne javanica and Globodera pallida on Potato (Solanum tuberosum)

Pot experiment was conducted in a greenhouse to assess the biocontrol potential of Purpureocillium lilacinum and Verticillium leptobactrum against single or concomitant infestations of Meloidogyne javanica and Globodera pallida in potato cv. Spunta. The incorporation of each fungus alone into the soil significantly increased the growth parameters. Fresh weight of shoots, roots and tubers were lower ( P ≤ 0.05) in the untreated control than in plants treated with having the above-mentioned fungi treatments. Control efficacy achieved by soil application of P. lilacinum was 73% and 76% in terms of root/g of roots and soil population/g of soil, respectively and that of V. leptobactrum was 73% and 55% 117 days after inoculation. The results revealed also that the application of P. lilacinum and V. leptobactrum decreased significantly the development of potato cyst-nematode in roots by 76% and 83% and in the soil by 61% and 66% respectively. Combined infection by the two pathogens had also a significant reduction in case by introducing V. lepobactrum or P. lilacinum in soil.