Eight endophytic Pseudomonas sp. isolates viz., EB1 to EB8 and ten endophytic Bacillus sp. isolates viz., EB9 to EB18 and one endophytic Methylobacterium sp. isolate EB19 were tested their plant growth promotion activity and biocontrol potential against root knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita in tomato. On seed bacterization with nineteen endophytic bacterial isolates, eight isolates viz., EB19, EB16, EB18, EB3, EB11, EB2, EB10 and EB6 significantly enhanced the germination percentage, shoot and root length and vigour index of tomato seedlings by roll towel technique and pot culture studies. The promising eight endophytic bacterial isolates were screened for their nematicidal action against Meloidogye incognita in tomato under pot culture conditions. The study revealed that the culture filtrates of endophytic Bacillus sp. isolates viz., EB16, EB18, Methylobacterium sp. EB19 and Pseudomonas sp. EB3 significantly reduced the number of adult females, egg masses, eggs/eggmass, soil and root population of M. incognita. The lowest root gall index () was registered both in EB16 and EB18 isolates and it was followed by EB19 and EB3 () compared to untreated control (). | Evaluation of endophytic bacterial isolates against root knot nematode, Meloidogyne Incognita in tomato under glasshouse condition
