author(s)
S Abirami, K Poornima and N Swarnakumari

abstract
Pasteuria penetrans(Thorne) Sayer &Starr is a gram positive and endospore forming bacterial parasite of root knot nematode, Meloidogyne spp. Spore attachment on cuticle is the initial process of infection by P. penetrans. The parasitization of P. penetrans is influenced by external factors such as soil temperature and other microbes. To understand these factors, invitro experiments were conducted to assess the role of temperature and sonication on spore attachment. The compatibility of P. penetrans endospore with other bioagents such as Purpureocillium lillacinum, Pochonia chlamydosporia and Bacillus thuringiensis was also studied. The results showed that endospores of P. penetrans were compatible with other bioagents. Highest endospore attachment on juvenile was recorded at 25°C (85 per cent) and 30 min sonication (20khz) increased the spore attachment (89.76 per cent) on juveniles of Meloidogyne incognita.