title: Evaluation of entomopathogenic nematodes and the supernatants of the in vitro culture medium of their mutualistic bacteria for the control of the root-knot nematodes Meloidogyne incognita and M. arenaria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The suppressive effects of various formulations of four entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) species and the supernatants of their mutualistic bacteria on the root-knot nematodes (RKNs) Meloidogyne incognita and M. arenaria in tomato roots were evaluated. The EPNs Steinernema carpocapsae, S. feltiae, S. glaseri and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora were applied as either live infective juveniles (IJs) or infected insect cadavers. Spent medium from culturing the bacterial symbionts Xenorhabdus bovienii and Photorhabdus luminescens kayaii with the cells removed was also applied without their nematode partners.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The aqueous suspensions of IJs, infected cadaver applications of EPNs and especially treatments of X. bovienii supernatant suppressed the negative impact of RKNs on tomatoes. Specific responses to treatment were reduced RKN egg masses, increased plant height and increased fresh and dry weights compared with the control where only RKNs were applied.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among the treatments tested, the plant-dipping method of X. bovienii into bacterial culture fluid may be the most practical and effective method for M. incognita and M. arenaria control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Gaziosmanpasa University, Tokat, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ilker
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kepenekci
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Adnan Menderes University, Aydın, Turkey.
authors.forename: Selcuk
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hazir
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, One Shields Ave., Davis, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Edwin E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Lewis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003470:Culture Media / Q000494:pharmacology; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D017168:Rhabditida / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology*; D013559:Symbiosis; D014431:Tylenchoidea / Q000187:drug effects*; D020593:Xenorhabdus / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media
keywords: Photorhabdus; Xenorhabdus; cadaver; entomopathogenic nematode; root-knot nematode