INFLUENCE OF THE MICROBIAL COMMUNITY OF A SAHEL SOIL ON THE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN MELOIDOGYNE-JAVANICA AND PASTEURIA-PENETRANS

The suppressiveness of Sahel soil against the root-knot nematode Meloi dogyne javanica was studied. This soil was compared to another of the same type, collected from an adjacent vegetable plot. However, only on e soil was infested by Pasteuria penetrans. Tomato plant and nematode development were greater in the soil with the P. penetrans. The multip lication of P. penetrans added to both sterilized soils was effective. Moreover, the presence of P. penetrans was associated with a larger m icrobial population (bacteria (fluorescent Pseudomonas), nematophagous and mycorrhizal fungi) which stimulated the attachment of Pasteuria s pores to root-knot nematode juveniles. The incidence of the interactio ns between these microorganisms on the multiplication of the root-knot nematodes is discussed.