Application of Bacillus Species in the Management of Meloidogyne incognita

The main approach to bring Meloidogyne spp. populations beneath their damaging threshold level has been by rotation of crops, use of resistant genotypes and application of synthetic nematicides. However, it is difficult to get resistant seeds in developing economies and rotation is limited by the complexity of smallholder farming systems. Thus, many farmers rely on the application of synthetic nematicides for control. Such chemical handling coupled with the effects of these synthetics in the environment brought manifold problems to farmers, the environment and society. A salient environmentally safe substitute course for handling M. incognita infestation is by implementing Bacillus spp. as a standard in pest management practices. Recent breakthroughs in using Bacillus sp., as an auxiliary in M. incognita management on cardinal crops are highlighted in this chapter. Significant problems, challenges and drawbacks in these procedure are also discussed.