LAUSR

Although the root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) is an important pathogen in crop cultivation, few methods are available to control this parasitic nematode. In this study, the nematicidal effects of approximately 30 Streptomyces strains isolated from soil samples of Mt. Naejang (Korea) were tested against Meloidogyne incognita, and the culture broth of the strains KRA-24 and KRA-28 exhibited an approximately 75% and 85% insecticidal activity in in vitro assays. In in vivo pot experiments, theses strains reduced the number of nematodes in the soil and the number of egg masses in the roots of red peppers. The two strains also survived in the presence of insecticidal agents (0.1 to 3.0%) such as fosthiazate, ethoprophos and terbufos when they used in parallel. The mixture of KRA-24 or KRA-28 culture broth and fosthiazate exhibited nematicidal effects that were similar to those observed when KRA-24 or KRA-28 used alone. Our results clearly suggest that the Streptomyces strains KRA-24 and KRA-28 should be promote as a biocontrol agent against Meloidogyne incognita.