In Vitro Bioassay of Purpureocillium lilacinum and Bacillus thuringiensis for Control of Meloidogyne incognita on Black Pepper (Piper nigrum L.) in Sarawak, Malaysia, Northern Borneo

This study aimed to evaluate strains of the entomopathogenic fungus Purpureocillium lilacinum (PL) and bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) from Sarawak for their in vitro nematicidal properties against different developmental stages Meloidogyne incognita  (MI). Ten indigenous novel PL, a strain (PLM), BT carrying Cry6 Cry14 gene sequences were screened MI females, eggs, egg hatching 2nd stage active juveniles (J2). Bioassays reported PLA PLB designated as best biocontrol agent eggs J2, indicated highest infection significantly decreased events. PLA, PLB, PLM (positive control) demonstrated highly significant (>90%, P≤0.01) on female nematodes. Egg parasitism tests revealed that spore suspension (105 spore/mL) exhibited 78.8%, 66.0% 73.4% respectively. with low mortality 6.0%, 5.5% 5.7%, respectively, showed (P<0.05) differences effect J2 compared control treatment (2.3%). Hatching incubated seven days reduced by 89 % when corrected (26%).