In vitro screening of macro basidiomycetous fungi against root knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita

Biological control would be a prospective alternative to the existing chemical nematicides to keep the root knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita regimented. Macrofungi are fungal species that produce fruiting bodies visible to the naked eye. Many of the macro basidiomycetous fungi produce several compounds which recorded with nematicidal and insecticidal properties. In this study, eleven macro basidiomycetes were screened in vitro against M. incognita. The crude culture filtrates were extracted and evaluated for their antagonistic effect on egg hatching and juvenile mortality of M. incognita. Crude culture filtrates of Ganoderma lucidum and Lentinus edodes were found to be toxic to egg masses and exhibit the highest mortality rate. The results revealed that the crude culture filtrates of G. lucidum reduced the M. incognita egg hatching 89.8% and increased the juvenile mortality by 93.5% which was followed by L. edodes which inhibited the egg hatching by 85% and caused juvenile mortality by 90.83%.