Suppression of Meloidogyne hapla by arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) on pyrethrum in Kenya

Two arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) isolated from a pyrethrum-growing region in Kenya were screened for efficacy against a nematode, Meloidogyne hapla, in greenhouses. The fungi were identified at INVAM (International Culture Collection of Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi) as Glomus etunicatum (Isolate KS18) and Glomus sp. (Isolate KS14). Isolate KS14 (Glomus sp.) significantly suppressed nematode population, growth and development by up to 54%, egg production by up to 75% and disease severity by up to 71%. Glomus etunicatum (Isolate KS18) suppressed nematode growth and development by up to 50%, egg production by up to 75% and disease severity by up to 57%. In addition, G. etunicatum and Isolate KS14, significantly improved top dry biomass of pyrethrum by up to 33% and 47%, respectively. Glomus etunicatum and M. hapla were mutually inhibitory as root colonization by G. etunicatum was significantly reduced (up to 24%) by the presence of the nematode. The presence of the nematodes, on the other hand, did not significantly affect root colonization by Isolate KS14.