Compost-Derived Bacterial Communities Offer Promise as Biocontrol Agents against Meloidogyne javanica and Promote Plant Growth in Tomato

Eirini Karanastasi (), Vasileios Kotsantonis and Iakovos S. Pantelides ()
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Eirini Karanastasi: Department of Agriculture, University of Patras, 30200 Messolonghi, Greece
Vasileios Kotsantonis: Department of Agriculture, University of Patras, 30200 Messolonghi, Greece
Iakovos S. Pantelides: Department of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology and Food Science, Cyprus University of Technology, Lemesos 3603, Cyprus

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 6, 1-12

Abstract: Meloidogyne nematodes, commonly known as root-knot nematodes, pose a considerable threat to crop yields, resulting in significant economic losses due to their intricate biology and limited control methods. In line with the European Union’s focus on promoting organic farming and soil health to encourage sustainable agricultural practices, this study explores the efficacy of two characterized bacterial communities obtained from compost against M. javanica in tomato plants. Through pot experiments, it was demonstrated that both bacterial communities, namely SC1 and SC2, effectively suppressed nematode reproduction and root invasion, which was reflected by a reduction in the number of egg masses per root (by 63% and 28%, respectively) and a reduction in the total progeny population (by 68% and 28%, respectively), with various simultaneously enhanced growth parameters in tomatoes, i.e., aerial part fresh weight increased by 74% and 58%, aerial part dry weight increased by 90% and 55%, and plant height increased by 86% and 53%, respectively. These findings underscore the potential of compost bacterial communities as promising tools for organic or integrated pest management, thereby supporting sustainable agricultural practices and contributing to improved crop yields.

Keywords: Meloidogyne javanica; bacterial communities; sustainable agriculture (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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