BIOLOGICAL-CONTROL OF PLANT-PARASITIC NEMATODES BY FUNGI - A REVIEW

Of the microorganisns that parasitize or prey on nematodes or reduce n ematode populations by their antagonistic behaviour, fungi hold import ant positions and some of them have shown great potential as biocontro l agents. Fungi continuously destroy nematodes in virtually all soils because of their constant association with nematodes in the rhizospher e. A large number of fungi are known to trap or prey on nematodes but the most important genera include Paecilomyces, Verticillium, Hirsutel la, Nematophthora, Arthrobotrys, Drechmeria, Fusarium and Monacrospori um. Application of some of these fungi has given very interesting resu lts. There is an urgent need to develop some easy technologies for for mulation and mass production of fungi at a commercial scale for field application. Some of these fungi may be used in integrated nematode ma nagement programmes despite some obstacles. Copyright (C) 1997 Elsevie r Science Ltd.