Efficacy of Pseudomonas chlororaphis subsp. aureofaciens SH2 and Pseudomonas uorescens RH43 isolates against root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) in kiwifruit

Authors: S. Bashiri, P. Llop, M. Davino, M. Golmohammadi, G. Scuderi

Corresponding: G. Scuderi (gscuderi@unict.it)

Keywords: Biocontrol; Bacteria; Nematicide; kiwifruit; 16S rRNA

Doi: http://dx.medra.org/10.7423/XJENZA.2015.2.07

Issue: Xjenza Online Vol. 3 Iss. 2 - December 2015

Abstract:
The Root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne spp., are parasites of many crops and orchards, including kiwifruit trees. The Islamic Republic of Iran is among the leading kiwifruit producers in the world and M. in- cognita has been found as the dominant species respons- ible for severe loss of this crop. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of antagonistic bacteria on larval mortality, number of galls per plant and egg masses of nematode reduction, fty local bacterial strains were isolated from root surrounding soils of kiwifruit plants in the north- ern production areas in Iran. Bacterial antagonists were characterized by morphological, physiological, biochem- ical and molecular methods. Two representative strains, showing the best nematicidal activity, were identied as Pseudomonas chlororaphis subsp. aureofaciens (isol- ate Sh2) and Pseudomonas uorescens (isolate Rh43). They increased the percentage of larval mortality to 56:38% and 54:28% respectively in assays in vitro and showed excellent performance also in vivo with consist- ent reduction of number of galls (67:31% and 55:63%, re- spectively) and egg mass (86:46% and 84:29%, respectively) in plants. This study indicates that Pseudomo- nas chlororaphis subsp. aureofaciens isolate Sh2 and Pseudomonas uorescens isolate Rh43 are good poten- tial biocontrol agents for containing root-knot nemat- odes in kiwifruit trees.

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