efficiency of two species of pleurotus in biological control of the root knot nematode, meloidogyne javanica

efficiency of pleurotus ostreatus and p. sajor-caju as biocontrol agents of the root knot nematode, meloidogyne javanica, was evaluated in vitro and in greenhouse experiments. population of the nematode were prepared and nematicidal effects of culture filtrates of the fungal specieson second stage juveniles of m. javanica were tested. substrates completely colonized by tested fungi as fungal inoculums in three weight levels and two levels of nematode populations were used to evaluate the effect of the fungi on severity of disease caused by the nematode in a greenhouse trial. culture filtrates of the fungi were toxic to nematodes and filtrates of p. ostreatus showed greater nematicidal activity. application of 100 and 150 gr. of completely colonized composts of the fungi improved the fresh root weight of the seedlings and reduced the galling index and nematode population as compared to the controls and application of p. ostreatus was more effective than p. sajor-caju