EFFECT OF SOME INDIGENOUS ISOLATES OF Trichoderma harzianum ON ROOT KNOT NEMATODE, Meloidogyne javanica (TREUB) CHITWOOD

Soil and root samples of tomato were collected from root knot nematode-infested fields of fifteen different localities of Malakand and Swat (NWFP) Pakistan in 2006-07 and Trichoderma harzianum was isolated from these samples. These isolates were tested against Meloidogyne javanica (Treub) Chitwood in the in vitro. Isolates Th1 and Th9, collected from Jabban and Shamozai were more aggressive than other isolates against M. javanica. Culture filtrates (CF) of T. harzianum at different concentrations, (standard, 1:1, 1:10, and 1:100) were studied. In vitro studies revealed that hatching of M. javanica eggs was inhibited by the action of culture filtrates and this inhibition was positively correlated with increase in the concentration of culture filtrates. Maximum inhibition of egg hatching (80.36%) was observed at standard concentration, followed by 68.08% at 1:1 and minimum inhibition (10.66%) was recorded at the lowest concentration. Isolates from Jaban and Shamozai significantly inhibited egg hatching of the nematodes. Parasitism of M. javanica eggs by T. harzianum ranged from 16.65% in control (T0) to 90.00% in isolates collected from Shamozai (Th9).