A FUNGAL PARASITE OF MELOIDOGYNE-JAVANICA EGGS - EVALUATION OF ITS USE TO CONTROL THE ROOT-KNOT NEMATODE

A fungal parasite was isolated fr om black-coloured egg masses of Melo idogyne javanica on tomato roots. The fungus did not sporulate on any of the culture media tested or in the egg mass. Hyphal characteristics suggest that it is similar to the hyphomycete genus Scytalidium. Hyph ae of the Scytalidium-like fungus (CBS 645.97 and IMI 368886) prolifer ated in the gelatinous matrix of the egg mass and penetrated the eggsh ell via a penetration peg. Parasitism of the egg mass greatly lowered the hatch I ate of M. javanica juveniles in vitro. Application of the fungus to soil did not inhibit juvenile penetration into tomato roots. However, the nematode population in soil treated,vith the fungus was lower than in non-treated soil after one nematode generation. The exac t identification of the Scytalidium-like fungus, technology for mass p roduction and its application in the field for control of root-knot ne matodes requires further investigation.