AUTHOR=Zhang Renjun , Ouyang Jin , Xu Xingyang , Li Jie , Rehman Muzammal , Deng Gang , Shu Jie , Zhao Dake , Chen Suiyun , Sayyed R. Z. , Fahad Shah , Chen Yaqiong TITLE=Nematicidal Activity of Burkholderia arboris J211 Against Meloidogyne incognita on Tobacco JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2022 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.915546 DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2022.915546 ISSN=1664-302X ABSTRACT=Root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) is the most widespread and damaging nematode affecting tobacco. Due to the lack of effective measures to control this nematode, its management can be achieved, using biocontrol agents. This study investigated in vitro efficacy of the antagonistic bacterial strain J211 isolated from tobacco rhizosphere soil against M. incognita, and further assessed its role in controlling nematodes, both in pot and field trials. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA ribosomal gene sequence of strain J211 assigned to Burkholderia arboris. Culture filtrates B. arboris J211 exhibited a nematicidal activity against the second-stage juveniles (J2s) of M. incognita, with a 96.6% mortality after 24 h exposure. Inoculation of J211 in tobacco roots significantly reduced the root galling caused by M. incognita, both in pot and field trials. Meanwhile, B. arboris J211 also promoted tobacco growth and increase flue-cured tobacco yield by 8.7% - 24.3%. Overall, B. arboris J211 is a promising and alternative bionematocide, controlling root-knot nematodes efficiently and improving tobacco yield.