Find in Library

<i>Meloidogyne enterolobii</i> is one of the most virulent root-knot nematodes (RKNs). <i>Aspergillus tubingensis</i> Raoul Mosseray, 1934, is used to produce bioactive substances, enzymes, and secondary metabolites. However, no research has been conducted yet on the efficacy of <i>A. tubingensis</i> against plant-parasitic nematodes. Thus, the novel research was planned to evaluate the biocontrol efficacy of <i>A. tubingensis</i> fermentation against <i>M. enterolobii</i>. The findings showed that egg hatching inhibition and mortality of <i>M. enterolobii</i> increased with increasing concentration of fermentation and exposure time. The maximum second-stage juveniles (J2s) mortality was achieved via 100% fermentation at 72 h. Similarly, 100% fermentation inhibited 99.9% of egg hatching at 8 d. <i>A. tubingensis</i> fermentation increased plant biomass, decreased second-stage juvenile invasion, and inhibited nematode development and reproduction in greenhouse conditions. <i>A. tubingensis</i> reduced J2 invasion into tomato roots by 42.84% with CS+ (coated seeds plants with nematodes inoculum) and 27.04% with T+ (100% fermentation broth and nematodes inoculum both) treatments. Moreover, CS+ and T+ treatments decreased nematode development by 54.31% and 21.48%, respectively. It is concluded that the <i>A. tubingensis</i> GX3 strain can be used as a novel microbial biocontrol agent against <i>M. enterolobii</i>.