BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF ROOT-KNOT NEMATODE ON BETELVINE, PIPER BETLE, BY PAECILOMYCES

Experiments were concluded for two years with Paecilomyces lilacinus to control Meloidogyne incognita infecting Piper betle. Rice grains infected with the fungus were inoculated in different doses per plant and compared with carbofuran as control. Better reduction of nematode population was observed in treating parasitic fungi infested rice grains at 8 g/kg soil. The fungus penetrated the egg masses and the egg masses contained empty egg shells.