Fungi Associated With Nematodes In Agricultural Soil In Some Regions Of Libya

Salem M. R. Saud , and Ezarug A. Edongali
Plamt protection department, Faculty of Agriculture, El-Fateh University, P.O. Box 13274, Tripoli, Libya.

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of fungi in association with nematodes in agricultural soil of Libya. Soil samples from different parts of costal- western region including Zawia and some Tripolitanian areas, and southern and eastern-mid region (Mahroga and Augila) were collected and evaluated. Fungi were isolated from the soil using soil-sprinkling technique. The following fungi were isolated: Gliocladium sp., Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani, Oedocephalum sp., Trichoderma viride and Trichosoporon sp. The results indicated that the following fungi were found to inhibit root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) egg hatching: Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani and Trichoderma viride. While Oedocephalum sp., Gliocladium sp. and Trichoderma viride were less effective. It was also found that these fungi colonized the egg sacs and the hatched second stage juveniles were weak. When 10000 eggs and second stage juveniles were added to tomato variety cv. ReoGrande (Susceptible to nematode) inoculated with isolates of Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani and Trichoderma viride and local isolates of Paecilomyces varotii, the results indicated that a significant reduction in number of galls formed when Fusarium solani and Trichoderma viride were used, whereas, no significant results obtained when Fusarium oxysporum or Paecilomyces varotii were used. A spore suspension of these fungi added to soil with PDA (4 ml/2kg of soil) resulted in reduction of galls on ReoGrande tomato cultivar, and no galls were observed on tomato cultivar Falkato.