Effect of Some Microbial Fertilizers on Tomato Growth and Root-Knot Nematode (Meloidogyne incognita)

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of some commercial microbial fertilizers on root-knot nematode Meloidoyne incognita and tomato growth. For this purpose, pot experiments were carried out in the study; Microbial fertilizers consisting of Nematofix® (N), Rootsafer® (R), Phosfert® (P) and Endoryza® (E) were evaluated as individual and combinations (double, triple and quadruple). While none of the applications caused any increase for stem height in the plants without nematode, some applications used by some combinations (N+R+P, N+P+E, R+P+E, and N+R+P+E) of microbial fertilizers caused significant changes compared to control (p<0.05). Plant stem dry weight and root fresh weight were positively affected compared to control (p<0.05) only when all microbial fertilizers were used together (N+R+P+E). This is the only application group where a statistically significant increase was observed in all of the plant criteria relative to the control in nematode-inoculated plants. The lowest gall index (5.6) was detected only in P treatment, while N only treatment had the lowest egg number and the reproductive index. Nematofix, which reduces the reproduction of M. incognita by about 54% compared to the control, has the potential to be used with other control methods where this nematode is a problem.

Keywords

• Meloidogyne incognita
• tomato
• microbial fertilizer
• plant growth