SYNERGISM BETWEEN PRATYLENCHUS PENETRANS (COBB) AND VERTICILLIUM ALBO-ATRUM R. & B. IN EGGPLANT WILT

Abstract

Studies conducted in steam-sterilized soil inoculated with Verticillium alboatrum and Pratylenchus penetrans demonstrated a synergistic relationship between fungus and nematode. At low and intermediate levels of Verticillium inoculum, the nematode increased wilt and the increase may be a function of the number of nematodes present. Except at the high inoculum levels of Verticillium, significantly larger numbers of P. penetrans occurred in eggplant roots in the presence than in the absence of the fungus. The nematode alone had no adverse effect on root condition or growth of eggplant.