Archives Of Phytopathology And Plant Protection

Efficacy of Saccharomyces cerevisiae on controlling the root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne javanica) infection and promoting cucumber

growth and yield under laboratory and field conditions

Muwaffaq Ramadan Karajeh*

Faculty of Agriculture, Plant Protection and IPM Department, Mutah University, Karak, Jordan

Abstract:

Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a promising plant growth-promoting yeast for different crops. Applicability of S. cerevisiae as a biocontrol agent of the root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne javanica) was investigated on cucumber under growth-room and field conditions. The yeast S. cerevisiae similar to the nematicide, Ethoprophos, when applied as a rhizospheric soil drench treatment led to an obvious reduction of root galling caused by M. javanica and resulted in reducing the nematode reproduction ability on cucumber under growth room and field conditions. The yeast was more effective at 10 than at 5 g/l. Furthermore, the application of S. cerevisiae resulted in  improving cucumber plant growth and increasing its fruit yield. High content of total phenolics in cucumber roots of S. cerevisiae-treated plants and hydrogen peroxidetreated  plants gives a clue on the ability of the yeast to induced plant resistance in a similar way to exogenous hydrogen peroxide.