Effects of endophytic Fusarium oxysporum towards Radopholus similis activity in absence of banana.

Four endophytic fungi (Fusarium spp.) isolated from the cortical tissue of surface-sterilised banana as well as from tomato roots were tested for their capacity of biological control towards the burrowing nematode Radopholus similis on banana. The pathogenic and parasitic capacities of endophytic fungi towards R. similis were tested in in vitro experiments. No parasitism of fungi on R. similis was observed. However, nematode activity decreased significantly in the presence of all endophytic fungi in vitro when compared to nematodes in the absence of fungi. The effects of fungi on R. similis activities in the soil were tested in the absence of plants. Nematode activities were reduced significantly by 16-30% by endophytic fungi when compared to untreated soil.