Bioefficacy of Bio-metabolites Produced by Streptomyces sp. Strain MR-14 in Ameliorating Meloidogyne incognita Stress in Solanum lycopersicum Seedlings

Various kinds of biotic and abiotic environmental stresses impose threat on growth and yield of crops. Amongst biotic stresses, Root knot nematode (RKN), especially Meloidogyne incognita act as one of the main constraints with wide range of hosts, that ultimately results in huge global losses in terms of yield and productivity. Nowadays, different soil micro biota has achieved importance as bio-control agents against RKNs. In this aspect, the present study was designed to assess the nematicidal potential of metabolites produced by Streptomyces sp. strain MR-14 against M. incognita in order to regulate its pathogenicity in plants. The current study revealed that metabolites present in crude extract showed 83% of mortality in juveniles of M. incognita. The work was further carried out in 7 days old M. incognita infested Solanum lycopersicum seedlings. The seedlings that were pre-treated with the metabolites in the form of crude extract and supernatant showed significant reduction in gall formation. Furthermore, treated seedlings showed enhanced photosynthetic activities as well as antioxidative defence mechanism. The microscopic studies were also assessed to screen the effect of microbial strain on the glutathione tagging and cell viability. The studies confirmed the potential of Streptomyces sp. strain MR-14 as biocontrol agent that not only promoted the plant growth but also improved the biochemical responses of the infected plants.