Applying Pseudomonas fluorescens and Arthrobotrys thaumasia together Efficiently Manages On tomatoes, Meloidogyne incognita

Abstract

One of the most significant horticultural crops in Indonesia is the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). However, root-knot 
nematode (Meloidogyne spp.) infections contribute to its subpar output. The overuse of chemical nematicides has created 
ecological and environmental issues, underscoring the need for sustainable substitutes. A viable approach is to combine 
nematode-trapping fungus (NTFs) with beneficial bacteria like Pseudomonas fluorescens, which may increase biocontrol 
efficacy through synergistic interactions. In this work, we used in vitro tests and in vivo experiments on tomato plants to 
assess the biocontrol capacity of Arthrobotrys thaumasia and P. fluorescens against M. incognita. Six treatments were used 
in the in vivo application: M. incognita as a positive control, a negative control without M. incognita, a chemical control with 
carbofuran, biocontrol treatments with A. thaumasia and P. fluorescens, and a combination of A. thaumasia and P. 
fluorescens. Seven, fourteen, and thirty-five days after the immunization, observations were made. The greatest nematode 
death rate (87%) was caused by A. thaumasia after 48 hours, followed by P. fluorescens (64%), according to the results. There 
was no antagonistic relationship between the two agents, according to compatibility tests. The combination treatment 
decreased the quantity of vermiform worms and root-knot formation while increasing tomato plant development, according 
to in vivo studies. At 35 days following inoculation, the combination therapy of A. thaumasia and P. fluorescens decreased 
root galling by 90%, followed by A. thaumasia (76%), carbofuran (43%), and P. fluorescens (36%). According to these 
results, suppressing root-knot nematodes during tomato production may be accomplished more successfully and sustainably 
by combining A. thaumasia with P. fluorescens.