Evaluation of Biocontrol of the Meloidogyne Javanica with Bacillus Subtilis and Purpureocillium Lilacinus in Greenhouse with Lettuce

Background: The aim o f this study was to evaluate the product “ICB Nutrisolo Paecilomyces GL” (Purpureocillium lilacinus) (Thom.) and Bacillus subtilis (Cohn) MTox1556-5, Bacillus subtilis CCGB-LFB-117 (LFB-FIOCRUZ-117), Bacillus subtilis CCGB-LFB-757 (LFB-FIOCRUZ-757) against eggs and juveniles (J2) of Meloidogyne javanica in greenhouse. Results: The bioassays indicated that MTox1556-5 and the product containing P. lilacinus reduced by 90% the number of eggs/J2 of M. javanica per root system. In standard B. subtilis CCGB LFB 117 (LFB-FIOCRUZ 117) and B. subtilis CCGB LFB 757 (LFB-FIOCRUZ 757) the number of eggs and J2 was reduced by 58% and 78%, respectively. The weight of shoots and roots did not differ significantly between treatments. The protein profiles of isolates showed different bands, distributed as follows: B. subtilis MTox 1556-5: 100 to 21 kDa; B. subtilis CCGB LFB 117 (LFB-FIOCRUZ 117): 119 to 23 kDa; B. subtilis CCGB LFB 757 (LFBFIOCRUZ 757): 51 to 17 kDa. Conclusions: Data infer that the biological control agents inhibit the formation of eggs in the galls. This fact may be related to enzymes produced by P. lilacinus or the set of antibiotics, enzymes and proteases produced by B. subtilis, which acted on the fecundity and fertility of M. javanica nematode s.