Efficacy of Paecilomyces lilacinus (strain 251) for the control of Radopholus similis in banana.

Paecilomyces lilacinus is a common soil fungus that has been isolated from many different habitats around the world. It is well known as a facultative egg pathogen of sedentary nematodes and also an important option to control Radopholus similis juvenile and adults in banana. This nematode antagonistic fungus may be used in an integrated approach to control banana plant parasitic nematodes. Dose response and form of application experiments were conducted with burrowing nematode, R. similis, on banana using a commercial water dispersible granulate formulated P. lilacinus (strain 251) product. The results revealed that nematode activity decreased in the presence of this fungus. An important correlation between rates of application and the degree of control of R. simnilis penetration and banana root weight was observed. The best control was achieved in the treatment were plantlets and soil were pre-inoculated with P. lilacinus and reinoculated during transplantation. The results showed that the biocontrol agent P. lilacinus is an excellent candidate for an IPM program against nematodes such as Radopholus similis.