Trichoderma harzianum reduces population of Meloidogyne incognita in cucumber plants under greenhouse conditions

Trichoderma harzianum strain ESALQ-1306 was assessed for its potential biological control against Meloidogyne incognita race 4 under in vitro and greenhouse conditions. In vitro, we noticed 64% of conidial attachment on eggs and second-stage juvenile immobilized by the fungus. In greenhouse, cucumber plants were treated with different concentrations of conidial suspensions before and after inoculation with M. incognita. After 60 days, the most efficient treatment provided about 50% nematode reduction by using three sequential applications of T. harzianum. However, the fungus did not increase the fresh and dry root weight. We conclude that this fungus rises as a good option of biological control for the integrated management of root-knot nematode in protected cultivation of cucumbers.