105 - Biocontrol of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita in Kenyan tomato varieties using habitat-adapted endophytes
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Date
2014-09
Authors
Schouten, Alexander
Grundler, Florian M. W.
Kuska, Matheus
Kariuki, George M.
Bogner, Catherine Wanja
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Deutsche Pflanzenschutztagung
Abstract
Plant parasitic nematodes, especially root-knot nematodes, pose a major threat to the increasingly
important tomato production in the coastal humid tropics of East Africa. Tomato endophytes
collected from Kenya were identified and screened for their biocontrol activities in the tomato
cultivar moneymaker, various local Kenyan varieties and AVRDC accessions. In particular,
Trichoderma and Fusarium oxysporum isolates could significantly reduce root-knot nematode egg
densities when compared to the non-inoculated control. Split-root experiments and synchronized
infection studies have shown that the fungus initiates certain systemic plant defense responses
that affect both penetration and overall development of the nematode. In order to gain a deeper
understanding of the induced defense responses leading to this reduction in nematode infection,
specific tomato mutants that are impaired in particular defense pathways are analyzed with respect
to root-knot nematode colonization in the presence and absence of the beneficial
endophytes. At the same time, the expression of several marker genes and the activity of certain
enzymes, all involved in the various induced defense responses, are being monitored. In addition,
the effects of fungal metabolites on M. incognita and the initiation of defense responses is being
studied. The use of habitat-adapted endophytic fungi may provide a safe, efficient, reliable and
affordable approach to control root-knot nematodes.
Description
Research paper
Keywords
Citation
Deutsche Pflanzenschutztagung "Forschen – Wissen – Pflanzen schützen: Ernährung sichern!" 23. bis 26. September 2014, Freiburg