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Abstract

ABSTRACT The nematicidal potential of vermicompost (VC), vermicompost tea (VCT) and the bacterial bioagent Nemaless® was evaluated against Meloidogyne incognita infecting banana (Musa acuminata) cv. “Grand Nain” as compared to the nematicide fenamiphos 40% EC under laboratory and field conditions. Experiments were carried-out during two successive seasons (2016 and 2017). Results of the laboratory tests showed that the toxicity of VCT and Nemaless® to M. incognita second-stage juveniles (J2) was increased as their concentrations and exposure times were increased. The LC50 of VCT ranged from 30.86 × 103 to 83.77 × 105 mg/l, while the LC50 of Nemaless® ranged from 2.69 × 108 to 3.17 × 108 cell/ml. Results from the field experiments revealed that all of the tested treatments greatly suppressed (P ≤ 0.05) the numbers of galls, egg-masses and nematode final populations. The most potent materials in reducing the numbers of M. incognita in banana soil, in a descending order, were: fenamiphos, Nemaless®, vermicompost and vermicompost tea (VCT).