Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and Trichoderma in Capsicum annuum decrease the damage induced by Meloidogyne incognita

Consortia of native species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and Trichoderma (TRI) strains were evaluated in a greenhouse to control the sedentary endoparasitic nematode, Meloidogyne incognita (Mi) on Capsicum annuum. Plants inoculated with AMF and TRI consortia were inoculated with Mi, and eight treatments were evaluated: i) AMF, ii) TRI, iii) AMF+ TRI, iv) AMF + Mi, v) TRI + Mi, vi) AMF + TRI + Mi, vii) Oxamil nematicide + Mi and viii) Control, with 15 replicates arranged in a completely randomized experimental design. After 166 days, the AMF + Mi treatment resulted in the lowest galling index (53%). The lowest number of eggs was obtained with TRI + Mi and AMF +TRI + Mi with reductions of 68 and 55% with respect to control, and 54 and 37% to Oxamil + Mi. Reduction of females was achieved with treatments AMF + Mi in 11%, TRI + Mi in 42% and AMF + TRI in 61% with respect to control. Treatments without Mi inoculation presented healthy roots and a higher average of agronomic variables. The AMF + Mi, AMF + TRI + Mi treatments, which included nematode inoculation, promoted greater plant growth, with effects equal to those obtained with Oxamil + Mi. The consortia promoted plant growth and exerted antagonistic control effects against M. incognita greater than the nematicide.