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Biological Control of the Root-Knot Nematode Meloidogyne javanica by Trichoderma harzianum

First, second, and sixth authors: Department of Nematology, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), The Volcani Center, P.O.B. 6, Bet-Dagan 50250, Israel; third author: Otto Warburg Center for Agricultural Biotechnology, Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O. Box 12, Rehovot 76100 Israel; fourth author: Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados, Plant Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Unit, Apartado, Postal 629, 36500 Irapuato, Gto., Mexico; and fifth author: Mycontrol Ltd., Alon-Hagalil, Israel

The fungal biocontrol agent, Trichoderma harzianum, was evaluated for its potential to control the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica. In greenhouse experiments, root galling was reduced and top fresh weight increased in nematode-infected tomatoes following soil pretreatment with Trichoderma peat-bran preparations. The use of a proteinase Prb1-transformed line (P-2) that contains multiple copies of this gene improved biocontrol activity in the greenhouse experiments compared with the nontransformed wild-type strain (WT). All the Trichoderma strains showed the ability to colonize M. javanica-separated eggs and second-stage juveniles (J2) in sterile in vitro assays, whereas P-2 also penetrated the egg masses. This protease-transformed line presented the same nematicidal and overall proteolytic activity as the WT in in vitro tests in which concentrated soil extracts from Trichoderma-treated soils immobilized the infective J2. However, the J2 immobilization and proteolytic activities of both P-2 and the WT were higher than those obtained with strain T-203. Characterization of the activity of all Trichoderma strains soil extracts on J2 showed that it was heat resistant and restricted to the low-molecular-weight fraction (less than 3 kDa). It is suggested that improved proteolytic activity of the antagonist may be important for the biological control of the nematodes.

Additional keywords: plant-parasitic nematodes .