丛枝菌根真菌对不同番茄品种抗根结线虫病的影响

【背景】根结线虫病害严重制约我国设施蔬菜的生产。丛枝菌根真菌(Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi,AMF)作为土壤中最重要的有益真菌之一,可以促进植物生长,提高植物抗病性,减轻土传真菌和线虫病害的发生。在蔬菜保护地栽培中,AMF对于植物线虫病防治作用的研究受到了广泛关注。【目的】针对番茄生产中危害最严重的南方根结线虫(Meliodogyne incognita)病害问题,研究AMF和番茄品种不同组合的抗线虫效应,以期为菌根真菌作为生物防治剂和生物菌肥应用于实际生产提供技术基础。【方法】在灭菌土壤中,人工接种根结线虫,比较不同菌种Rhizophagus intraradices(Ri)、Acaulosporamellea(Am)及菌种组合Rhizophagusintraradices+Acaulosporamellea(Ri+Am)在不同番茄品种(感病品种蒙特卡罗和抗线虫品种仙客1号)上对南方根结线虫侵染和繁殖的影响,研究AMF对根结线虫的拮抗效应。另外,采用南方根结线虫连作发病的土壤,在感病品种蒙特卡洛上接种AMF混合菌种Ri+Am,番茄苗移栽入连作土壤中,测定各生长指标和调查根结和卵块数量,评价接种AMF处理对根结线虫病的防治效果。【结果】在灭菌土壤中,普通番茄品种蒙特卡罗的菌根效应显著优于抗线虫番茄品种仙客1号,表现为前者单位根重的根结和卵块的数量均比对照显著降低,而后者仅降低了卵块数量;蒙特卡罗上接种Ri+Am混合菌种的效果优于接种单一菌种Am和Ri;而仙客1号上接种Ri的效果更好。接种线虫也显著影响了AMF的侵染,而且对抗性品种仙客1号的影响更为明显。但除了接种Am的处理,大多数处理收获时菌根侵染率仍维持较高的水平(70%以上)。在连作土壤中,感病品种蒙特卡罗接种混合菌种Ri+Am具有较好的抗/耐线虫效应,主要表现为促进植株生长,显著降低根结和卵块数量,但菌根侵染率较灭菌土壤低,约为40%。【结论】综合以上结果,表明菌根化苗能够在一定程度上减轻根结线虫病的危害。土壤灭菌条件下,在感病和抗线虫番茄品种上接种AMF能够减轻线虫的侵染和繁殖,而且在感病品种上的防治效果更加显著。在连作土壤中,在番茄感病品种上接种AMF也表现较好的抗线虫效果。     

丛枝菌根真菌对西瓜嫁接苗抗南方根结线虫病的影响

根结线虫病是西瓜主要土传病害之一,长期连作往往加重西瓜根结线虫病害。利用抗病砧木嫁接可有效减轻瓜类蔬菜线虫病害,而接种丛枝菌根真菌(arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi,AMF)则能拮抗根结线虫,提高寄主植物抗病性。本试验旨在研究嫁接技术配合接种AMF降低瓜类蔬菜病害和促进生长的效应。试验以不同抗性南瓜杂交种(Cucurbita maxima×C.moschata)"青农2号"和"青农3号"分别嫁接西瓜Citrullus lanatus品种"京欣2号","青农2号"嫁接苗和"青农3号"嫁接苗先分别接种摩西管柄囊霉Funneliformis mosseae、变形球囊霉Glomus versiforme、根内根孢囊霉Rhizophagus intraradices,后接种南方根结线虫Meloidogyne incognita,测定AMF对不同西瓜嫁接苗根结线虫病和生长的影响。结果表明,接种AMF能不同程度地减轻嫁接苗根结线虫病害,其中,以"青农2号"嫁接苗接种变形球囊霉促生防病的效应最大。这可能与AMF提高根系活力、可溶性糖含量、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性、过氧化物酶(POD)活性和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性,降低丙二醛(MDA)含量有关。结果表明,"青农2号"嫁接苗结合接种变形球囊霉是生产上具有应用潜力的技术组合。     

贝莱斯芽孢杆菌TMQ-KSL-1分离鉴定及其发酵液对番茄根结线虫的生防作用

镰刀菌(Fusarium spp.)和根结线虫(Meloidogyne spp.)都是植物的重要病原物,这两种病原物在寄主植物中存在着非常复杂的互作关系,可导致严重的植物土传病害。为探寻对番茄根结线虫病害具有高效防治作用的优良菌株,本研究以禾谷镰刀菌(Fusarium graminearum)为靶标病菌,采用平板稀释涂布法从多年种植番茄的设施大棚土壤中分离和筛选到一株抑菌效果较好的生防细菌菌株TMQ-KSL-1,根据形态特征、生理生化特性和16S rRNA基因测序对该菌株进行鉴定;测定不同浓度的发酵液及发酵上清液对根结线虫卵孵化率以及根结线虫二龄幼虫死亡率的影响,通过盆栽实验分析其发酵液对根结线虫病害的防治效果。结果表明,菌株TMQ-KSL-1具有较强的杀线虫活性,其发酵液和发酵上清液处理48 h线虫卵孵化抑制率分别为94.76%和90.72%;处理24 h番茄根结线虫二龄幼虫的校正死亡率分别为100%和97.37%;菌株TMQ-KSL-1发酵液100倍稀释液、200倍稀释液对番茄根结线虫病害防治效果分别为59.54%和12.14%,且100倍液处理防效与阿维菌素500倍液处理防效(6...     

施氮量和土壤灭菌对根结线虫侵染番茄根系的影响

设施蔬菜生产中,根结线虫病害频繁发生,严重威胁了设施蔬菜生产的安全性和可持续性.为了探究氮肥施用量和土壤灭菌对根结线虫侵染番茄根系的影响,采用二因素(施氮量和土壤是否灭菌)二水平完全随机区组设计,进行盆栽试验.施氮量分别为100和300 mg·kg-1,采用γ射线对土壤灭菌或不灭菌.结果表明:未灭菌条件下,与高氮处理相比,低氮处理单位根长和单位根干重的根结数分别减少了42.5%和30.4%,地上部干重和根干重分别增加了43.9%和31.4%,氮素农学利用效率提高4.3倍;对土壤进行γ射线灭菌,有效地消除了根结线虫对番茄根系的侵染,地上部干重增加了31.8%;适当减少氮肥施用量能显著降低根结线虫对设施番茄根系的侵染,促进番茄生长,提高氮素农学利用效率.     

引入小麦秸秆抑制番茄根结线虫病

为了研究引入秸秆碳源对土壤根结线虫(Meloidogyne spp.)病害的抑制效果,以番茄为供试作物,设置3个梯度的小麦秸秆添加量进行了为期6个月的室内盆栽试验。结果表明:引入小麦秸秆能够抑制根结线虫病害的发生,但添加秸秆量过多会对番茄的生长产生负面作用。以华北农田小麦秸秆还田模式平均输入量为基本单位N,秸秆添加量为1N(2.08g/kg)、2N(4.16g/kg)、4N(8.32g/kg)时对根结线虫病的抑制率分别是:51.4%,94.0%,39.5%;当秸秆添加量为1N、2N时,番茄的株高、茎粗、开花率等指标没有明显下降,但当秸秆添加量升高至4N时,这些指标均明显下降。引入小麦秸秆后,土壤线虫群落结构发生了变化,植食性线虫的比例均有所下降,而食细菌、食真菌和杂食捕食性线虫的比例均有所上升。1N,2N,4N3个处理植食性线虫的比例分别下降了17.6%,97.3%和2.0%,而食细菌线虫的比例分别上升了100.5%,189.7%和117.8%,其中2N处理的线虫群落结构变化幅度最大;食真菌线虫的比例在4N处理中显著上升,增长率为350%,而杂食捕食性线虫则在1N处理中明显上升,增长率为66.7%。综合番茄生长指标、对根结线虫抑制率及土壤线虫群落结构变化3方面的结果,添加秸秆量为2N时对番茄根结线虫病的抑制效果最好。     

丛枝菌根（AM）生物技术在现代农业体系中的生态意义

菌根是植物根系与特定的土壤真菌形成的共生体,有利于生态系统中养分循环,协助植物抵御不良环境胁迫．自然条件下,大多数植物表现一定的菌根依赖性,在植株根系发育过程中如能与适宜的菌根真菌形成良好的菌根结构,可提高产量,改善品质,其中丛枝菌根是最普遍的类型．丛枝菌根帮助植物抵御不良环境胁迫及病虫害,促进植物健康生长,可减少化学肥料、杀虫剂施用量,以减少对环境、生态不利的化学物质施用量．丛枝菌根共生体可加速根系生长,提高对移动性低的无机离子吸收,加速养分循环利用,增强植物对不良胁迫(生物与非生物)因素的耐受力,形成良好的土壤结构,提高植物群体的多样性．文章综述了丛枝菌根真菌生态特征,丛枝菌根对寄主植物的影响,丛枝菌根生物技术应用于农业体系的生态意义及其应用潜力．     

根结线虫的人工培养和繁殖研究

以感染根结线虫的栝楼和番茄根为材料,用简化改良的贝尔曼漏斗法分离、纯化获得实验所需要的线虫;对根结线虫的体外培养进行研究,比较了灰霉菌(Botrytis cinerea)和腐皮镰孢菌(Fusarium solani)ZZG-1制备二重培养基对根结线虫生长影响,确定灰霉菌适宜作二重培养基培养根结线虫;通过接种根结线虫悬液,在室内15~25℃环境下培养3~4周,可获得大量生长一致的幼龄期(J2)线虫,解决了根结线虫培养时寄主依赖性的问题。     

拮抗菌生物有机肥对番茄根结线虫的防治作用

通过室内离体试验和温室盆钵试验,评价3株能够水解胶原蛋白的细菌XZ-173(解淀粉芽孢杆菌)、SL-25(吉氏芽孢杆菌)和KS-62(多粘类芽孢杆菌)对番茄根结线虫的防治能力.结果表明:XZ-173、SL-25、KS-62菌悬液对二龄幼虫(J2)的24 h致死率分别达到75.9%、66.7%和50.0%,处理7 d根结线虫虫卵孵化率分别为17.8%、28.9%和37.6%,而对照无菌水二龄幼虫死亡率和虫卵孵化率分别为17.4%和53.6%.在根结线虫发病土壤中施用以3种拮抗菌等比例混合发酵的生物有机肥,防治效果较好,与对照相比,根际土壤中根结线虫数减少84.0%,并且番茄植株根上的根结数和虫卵数显著减少,促进了作物地下部根系和地上部植株的生长.说明拮抗菌生物有机肥对防治根结线虫病害具有广阔的应用前景.     

土壤强还原处理对根结线虫数量、番茄生长及土壤性质的影响

土壤强还原处理是指高温条件下向土壤中施加大量有机物料并淹水覆膜,是一种防控土传病害的高效、环保、广谱的方法,但在防治根结线虫上的应用很少。本试验研究强还原处理对番茄上根结线虫的防治效果以及对土壤理化性质的影响。结果显示:处理20天后,强还原处理土壤中根结线虫2龄幼虫数量与阿维菌素处理效果相当,与CK和淹水覆膜处理存在显著性差异,强还原处理2龄幼虫数量比CK下降了58.8%~97.2%,比淹水覆膜处理下降了50.1%~96.6%;有机物料添加量为4.16 g·kg~(-1)时,强还原处理能够显著促进番茄根系伸长,增加根表面积,提高番茄地上部生物量;强还原处理土壤p H比CK平均提高了5.1%,土壤全氮和有机质含量分别平均提高了12.8%和3.4%。表明淹水添加有机物料创造强还原环境可以有效抑制根结线虫的繁殖,改良土壤理化性质。     

转HS1prol基因番茄植株的获得

目的为了减少根结线虫对番茄的危害,研究并获得转抗线虫基因HS1prol番茄植株.方法在鉴定表达载体之后,采用CaCl2法制作农杆菌EHA105感受态细胞,然后用冻融法将HS1prol基因转入农杆菌中.通过农杆菌介导法将HS1prol基因导入无菌番茄外植体中,获得抗根结线虫转化再生植株.用卡那霉素筛选到再生植株后,提取抗性芽的基因组,利用设计好的引物进行PCR鉴定.结果与结论目的基因已整合到番茄基因组中,获得了转HS1prol基因番茄植株.     

AMF和PGPR联合修复菲和芘污染土壤的效应

丛枝菌根真菌（arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,AMF）与根围促生细菌（plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria,PGPR）联合降解有毒有机物、修复污染土壤和促进植物生长的作用倍受关注。本试验旨在探究AMF与PGPR联合降解土壤中菲和芘的效应,以菲和芘1:1混合处理浓度各0、50mg/kg、100mg/kg和150mg/kg下对高羊茅Festuca elata接种AMF根内根孢囊霉Rhizophagus intraradices（Ri）、变形球囊霉Glomus versiforme（Gv）、PGPR荧光假单胞菌Pseudomonas fluorescens Ps2-6、芽孢杆菌Bacillus velezensis Ps3-2、Ri+Ps2-6、Ri+Ps3-2、Gv+Ps2-6、Gv+Ps3-2和不接种对照共36个处理。结果表明,供试AMF增加了PGPR的定殖数量;接种PGPR则显著提高AMF的侵染率。AMF、PGPR或AMF+PGPR处理均显著降低土壤中菲和芘含量,促进植物对土壤中菲和芘的吸收,显著提高高羊茅根系和叶片内的菲和芘含量。在土壤中菲和芘100mg/kg和150mg/kg水平下,Gv与Ps2-6及Ri与Ps2-6能相互促进对土壤中菲和芘的去除效应,其中接种Gv+Ps2-6组合处理的去除率最高,达到95%-98%,土壤中多酚氧化酶、脱氢酶和过氧化氢酶活性显著高于单接种处理和不接种对照,而酸性磷酸酶活性变化则表现为相反趋势。其中以Gv+Ps2-6组合处理的多酚氧化酶活性最高,为0.17mg/g,是不接种对照的1.9倍;脱氢酶和过氧化氢酶活性分别达到1.32µg/(g·h)和1.81mL/g;酸性磷酸酶活性则比不接种对照土壤降低27%-45%;易提取球囊霉素相关土壤蛋白含量和总球囊霉素相关土壤蛋白含量分别是不接种对照的1.6倍和1.5倍。     

Effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculation of rice seedlings at the nursery stage upon performance in the paddy field and greenhouse

We examined the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculation at the nursery stage on the growth and nutrient acquisition of wetland rice (t Oryza sativa L.) under field and pot conditions. Seedlings were grown on -ray sterilized paddy soil in two types of nurseries, namely dry nursery and wet nursery, with or without arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation which was a mixture of indigenous AMF (t Glomus spp.) spores collected from the paddy field. Five-to-six week old seedlings were transplanted to the unsterilized soil under field and pot, respectively. Mycorrhizal seedlings had higher shoot biomass under both nursery conditions 5 weeks after sowing. Mycorrhizal colonization and sporulation were 2 to 3 times higher in the dry nursery than the wet nursery at the transplanting stage. Mycorrhizal colonization of plants inoculated in the nursery remained higher than those not inoculated under both field and pot conditions. Sporulation after transplanting to field conditions was about 10 times higher than in the pot. Inoculated plants produced higher biomass at maturity under field conditions, and the grain yield was 14-21% higher than those not inoculated. Conversely, grain yield and shoot biomass were not significantly influenced by AMF colonization under pot conditions. For plants originating from the dry nursery, N, P, Zn and Cu concentrations of field-grown plants at harvest were significantly increased by preinoculation with AMF over those left uninoculated. We conclude that the AMF inoculation at the nursery stage under both dry and wet conditions increased growth, grain yield and nutrient acquisition of wetland rice under field conditions.     

接种木霉菌对黄瓜幼苗生长和根际土壤AM真菌侵染的影响

在盆栽试验中分别接种3株长枝木霉菌株Trichoderma longibrachiatum MF-1、MF-2和MF-3,以不接种木霉菌处理作为对照,研究木霉菌接种对土著AM真菌和黄瓜幼苗生长的影响。结果表明,菌株MF-1和MF-2显著提高了AM真菌侵染率和根外菌丝密度,与对照相比,AM真菌侵染率分别提高了26.85%和54.66%,根外菌丝密度分别是对照的3.94和3.76倍。接种菌株MF-2使植株地上部生物量显著提高了39.07%。菌株MF-3显著提高土壤pH和土壤有效磷含量。Pearson相关分析发现,添加木霉菌后,AM真菌侵染率与根外菌丝密度和孢子密度均呈显著正相关关系,土壤pH与植株地上部生物量和土壤有效磷含量均呈显著正相关关系。研究表明,3株长枝木霉与土著AM真菌的联合作用效果有明显差异,菌株MF-1和MF-2显著促进AM真菌生长,菌株MF-2更有利于黄瓜幼苗生长,而菌株MF-3主要改善土壤pH和有效磷含量。将几种木霉菌复合应用,有助于达到联合促生和改善土壤环境的综合效果。     

丛枝菌根真菌促进湿地植物对污染水体中镉的吸收

丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)具有促进植物生长、增强植物耐重金属毒害及修复重金属污染生境的作用.本试验于模拟湿地系统中设0、5、10和20 mg·L^-1镉浓度,对芦苇和狼尾草分别进行接种和不接种摩西斗管囊霉(Fm)、根内根孢囊霉(Ri)处理.结果表明: 镉污染降低了AMF侵染;接种AMF提高了芦苇和狼尾草的株高、干质量、叶绿素含量、地上部与根内的氮和镉含量,增强了根系对镉的富集能力,降低了镉转移系数.在5 mg·L^-1镉处理下,接种Fm的芦苇处理的各项指标均高于其他处理,其AMF侵染率为60.6%,每毫米根长的侵入点和泡囊数分别为2.3和3.7;与不接种对照相比,接种Fm的芦苇地上部与根系干质量分别提高69.1%和75.0%,地上部与根系氮含量分别提高38.7%和27.8%,叶绿素含量和株高分别增加3.8%和11.1%.湿地系统镉浓度与植株地上部和根内的镉含量呈显著正相关.在20 mg·L^-1镉处理下,接种Fm的芦苇地上部和根内镉含量达到最大值182.4和663.3 mg·kg^-1,镉转移系数最低,为0.27,而富集系数最高,为0.55.Fm+芦苇是本试验条件下吸收富集污染水体中镉的最佳组合.     

Castor bean growth and rhizosphere soil property response to different proportions of arbuscular mycorrhizal and phosphate-solubilizing fungi

A pot culture experiment was performed to study the effects of infection with different proportions of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) and phosphate-solubilizing fungus (PSF) on the rhizosphere soil property of castor bean (Ricinus communis L.). One AMF, Glomus mosseae, and one PSF, Mortierella sp. (Ms), were applied to non-sterilized coastal saline soil. The plant dry mass, leaf chlorophyll content, and P-uptake of castor bean were assessed. In coastal saline soil, the different proportions of both fungi-inoculated seedlings showed significantly greater shoot and root dry weight than the controls, which had lower root-to-shoot ratios than the inoculated seedlings. An increase in phosphorus (P) and chlorophyll contents was also observed in the inoculated seedlings compared with the controls. The appropriate Ms proportion seemed to be advantageous for AMF colonization. However, available P content of fungi-treated soil increased in proportion to the increase in Ms population and AMF colonization. By contrast, the pH of inoculated soil decreased because of the increased proportion of Mortierella, and electrical conductivity values showed a negative correlation with AMF colonization. Soil enzyme activities (i.e., urease, invertase, neutral phosphatase, and alkaline phosphatase) and soil organic matter were also stimulated by inoculation with different proportions of both fungi. However, the catalase activities of inoculated soil were inhibited compared with those of the control soil. Results from this study prove that castor bean planting associated with an appropriate proportion of AMF and PSF will benefit the amelioration of coastal saline soils of eastern China.     

Combined application of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and steel slag improves plant growth and reduces Cd,Pb accumulation in Zea mays

Abstract

Little attention has been paid to the combined use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) and steel slag (SS) for ameliorating heavy metal polluted soils. A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to study the effects of SS and AMF?Funneliformis mosseae (Fm), Glomus versiforme (Gv) and Rhizophagus intraradices (Ri) on plant growth and Cd, Pb uptake by maize grown in soils added with 5?mg Cd kg^?1 and 300?mg Pb kg^?1 soil. The combined usage of AMF and SS (AMF?+?SS) promoted maize growth, and Gv?+?SS had the most obvious effect. Meanwhile, single SS addition and AMF?+?SS decreased Cd, Pb concentrations in maize, and the greater reductions were found in combined utilization, and the lowest Cd, Pb concentrations of maize appeared in Gv?+?SS. Single SS amendment and AMF?+?SS enhanced soil pH and decreased soil diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)-extractable Cd, Pb concentrations. Furthermore, alone and combined usage of AMF and SS increased contents of soil total glomalin. Our research indicated a synergistic effect between AMF and SS on enhancing plant growth and reducing Cd, Pb accumulation in maize, and Gv?+?SS exerted the most pronounced effect. This work suggests that AMF inoculation in combination with SS addition may be a potential method for not only phytostabilization of Pb-Cd-contaminated soil but maize safety production.     

丛枝菌根真菌和磷水平对番茄幼苗侧根形成的影响

为了探讨丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)和磷水平对植物根系构型的影响,在两个磷水平下对番茄幼苗接种AMF菌株Rhizophagus irregularis BGC JX04B,研究AMF和磷水平对番茄幼苗侧根形成的影响.结果表明: AMF对植株生物量的促进效应不明显,但显著降低了植株的根冠比;显著增加了主根长而减少了1级侧根长,并与侵染时期存在互作;显著降低了2～3级侧根数量及2级侧根数与1级侧根数的比值,对1~2级侧根密度无显著影响.高磷(50 mg·kg^-1P)显著促进了植株生长,降低了植株的根冠比;对主根长和1级侧根长无显著影响,显著增加了1~3级侧根数量及2级侧根数与1级侧根数的比值,提高了1~2级侧根密度.表明AMF和磷水平对番茄侧根形成的影响机制不同,高磷的影响可能基于对养分吸收和生长的促进效应,而AMF的影响则更为复杂,且AMF与侵染时期的互作效应预示着碳素分配(糖信号)可能参与了AMF对根系构型的调控.     

丛枝菌根真菌与放线菌对辣椒和茄子的促生防病效应

丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)和植物共生放线菌(PSA)具有促进植物生长、抑菌、抗逆和防病等作用.然而,AMF与PSA之间是否能协同发挥促生防病作用值得探究.本试验旨在评价AMF和PSA对茄科蔬菜的促生防病效应,获得高效AMF+PSA组合.温室盆栽试验采用辣椒(羊角椒)和茄子(黑冠长茄子),分别接种和不接种AMF摩西斗管囊霉(Fm)、变形球囊霉(Gv)、PSA浑圆链霉菌(H6-1)、娄彻氏链霉菌(S2-2)、珊瑚链霉菌(D11-4)和病原真菌灰葡萄孢,共48个处理,测定各处理植株生长、发病和根系共生体发育状况等.结果表明: Fm与PSA能相互促进侵染定殖,而Gv与PSA相互抑制.与不接种对照相比,接种AMF、PSA和AMF+PSA各处理均能不同程度地提高辣椒和茄子植株的光合性能、根系活力和生长量.接种病原真菌条件下,接种AMF和PSA处理均显著促进植株生长,降低植株的病情指数,其中,PSA的促生防病效应大于AMF,Fm+H6-1组合对辣椒的促生防病效果最好,对灰霉病的防效达69.1%;Fm+D11-4对茄子的促生防病效果最佳,对灰霉病的防效达75.5%.在本试验条件下,Fm+H6-1和Fm+D11-4分别是辣椒和茄子促生防病的高效组合,有待进一步开展田间试验.     

Interactions of Paecilomyces lilacinus strain 251 with the mycorrhizal fungus Glomus intraradices: Implications for Meloidogyne incognita control on tomato

The interactions of Paecilomyces lilacinus strain 251 with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus intraradices and their significance for the control of Meloidogyne incognita on tomato were investigated in greenhouse experiments. Application of P. lilacinus had no effect on the frequency and intensity of tomato root colonization by G. intraradices. Likewise, the decline of the nematophagous fungus densities after single application in soil was not affected by the presence of the mycorrhizal fungus. Single application of P. lilacinus, as pre-planting soil treatment, resulted in significant reduction of nematode damage. In contrast, mycorrhizal inoculation did not provide sufficient biocontrol. Combined application of the two agents did not enhance root protection compared to single treatments. Double treatment of mycorrhized seedlings with P. lilacinus, as seedling drench and pre-planting soil treatment, 4 and 1 week before transplanting, respectively, resulted in the highest reduction of the nematode damage. These results indicate the potential of the commercial P. lilacinus strain 251 and mycorrhiza for integration in nematode control strategies.