Abstract
Bacillus cereus strain Jdm1 was isolated and tested for activity as a biocontrol agent to suppress Meloidogyne incognita. Petri dish test results indicated that Jdm1 culture supernatant significantly inhibited the second-stage juvenile (J2) activity and egg hatching, and also decreased the number of galls on tomato roots in the pot test. Control efficiency reached 43%, with improved growth compared to control plants. In field tests, control efficacies were greater than 50% 30 day post-inoculation, before decreasing. Furthermore, when avermectins were included to manage M. incognita, the yield of tomatoes was increased significantly. The effect of Jdm1 on the bacterial community in the tomato rhizosphere soil was monitored using PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) on field plants. DGGE band patterns and principal component analysis showed that application of Jdm1 did not permanently imperil the bacterial community, which recovered soon after inoculation, despite being impacted initially. The plant growth stage had a much greater influence on the bacterial community in tomato rhizosphere soil.