Trichoderma asperellum affects Meloidogyne incognita infestation and development in Celosia argentea

Due to the rise in cost and detrimental health and environmental consequences that accompany the use of nematicides, there is a need for a more eco-friendly and less expensive alternative to control root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita). Nematode infestation reduces the quality and quantity of Celosia argentea Linn. A pot experiment was conducted in a greenhouse to determine the biocontrol efficacy of Trichoderma asperellum against M. incognita in C. argentea. The treatments consisted M. incognita infected C. argentea inoculated with 0, 2.2 × 107, 4.4 × 107, or 6.6 × 107 cfu/pot of T. asperellum. All doses of T. asperellum reduced the root-knot nematode population and root gall index. Growth and development of C. argentea were improved, indicating that T. asperellum has the potential to be used as a biocontrol agent in C. argentea production. The biocontrol activity of T. asperellum in C. argantea increased as the week went by until the plants attained full maturity. Hence, the control of M. incognita by T. asperellum depends on the developmental stage of the plant root system