OCCURRENCE OF PLANT-PARASITIC NEMATODES AND NONPATHOGENIC SPECIES OF FUSARIUM IN TOMATO PLANTS IN KENYA AND THEIR ROLE AS MUTUALISTIC SYNERGISTS FOR BIOLOGICAL-CONTROL OF ROOT-KNOT NEMATODES
J. Hallmann et Ra. Sikora, OCCURRENCE OF PLANT-PARASITIC NEMATODES AND NONPATHOGENIC SPECIES OF FUSARIUM IN TOMATO PLANTS IN KENYA AND THEIR ROLE AS MUTUALISTIC SYNERGISTS FOR BIOLOGICAL-CONTROL OF ROOT-KNOT NEMATODES, International journal of pest management, 40(4), 1994, pp. 321-325
The occurrence of plant parasitic nematodes and endophytic fungi in to
mato plants was determined from different regions in Kenya. In areas w
ith regular cultivation of tomatoes, the population densities of all s
pecies of nematodes, regardless of trophic group, were high. Meloidogy
ne incognita was the predominant plant parasitic nematode in the regio
ns investigated. Apparently endophytic fungi were frequently isolated
from tomato roots, with Fusarium oxysporum being the most common endop
hyte detected. In contrast, irregular cultivation of tomato resulted i
n lower overall nematode densities and the absence of Meloidogyne infe
station. 5. oxysporum occurred only sporadically. Four isolates of F.
oxysporum, which were tested in subsequent greenhouse experiments, red
uced M. incognita populations without adversely affecting plant health
. Non-pathogenic isolates of F. oxysporum with mutualistic symbiotic b
ehaviour are potential biological control agents for plant parasitic n
ematodes.