INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC & TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH VOLUME 7, ISSUE 1, JANUARY 2018 ISSN 2277-8616 32 IJSTR©2018 www.ijstr.org An Investigation On Sumateran Arthrobotrys Oligospora And Carbofuran Againts Root- Knot Nematode (Meloidogyne Hapla) On Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum Mill.) Liana Dwi Sri Hastuti, Jane Faull Abstract: A bioassay pot trial using three species of the nematode-trapping fungi isolated from Sumatera Utara Indonesia were tested for potential as biocontrol agents. The 10 ml conidial suspension of Arthrobotrys oligospora containing 1x10 7 of conidia was added to the tomato media growth. Carbofuran® as chemical agent were also tested against Meloidogyne hapla on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.). Tomato plants were cultivated under growth cabinet conditions at temperatures between 22-25ºC and 12 hours light and 12 hours dark cycle. An inoculant of M. hapla containing 3 egg masses was injected into the soil around the roots of 15 days old tomato plants. A. oligospora and Carbofuran® treated plants showed reduced numbers of infections by M. hapla in term of swollen of roots, sausage shaped and galls, moreover all treatments enhanced growth in terms of length, root length, fresh, and dry weight. Results from the biological agents such as A. oligospora and the chemical agent Carbofuran® as standard nematicide indicate that all offered disease reduction. Key Words: Nematode Control Agent, Sumateran Nematode-trapping Fungi, Biocontrol agent, Root -Knot Nematode, M.hapla.. ——————————  —————————— 1 INTRODUCTION About 2000 plants are susceptible to infection by root-knot nematodes and they cause more than 5% of global crop loss [1]. Based on information from the International Survey of Crop Losses (2008) the estimated number of yield losses for some crop due to nematodes are: tomato 20.6%, sweet potato 10.2%, potato 12.2%, tobacco 14.7% and eggplant (aubergine) 16.9 % per year and overall average yield losses for all crops in the world is 12.3% per year (USDA, 2008). According to East Seed Indonesia (2007), the tomato yield in Indonesia is below world average in quantity and quality. An average yield of tomato 11.89 – 15.55 tonnes/hectare is very low if compared to USA and Europe with an average of 100 tonnes/hectare [2]. The potential yield of tomato plants, under optimum cultivation, can average 20 to 30 tones/ha. Thus strategies that focus on improving the yield of tomato plants per unit area should be considered. There are many constraints to increasing the quality or quantity yield of tomato in Indonesia, which is partly due the presence of nematodes. Nematodes are often the hidden enemy of the crop, they are insidious, because the symptoms of infestation are often unspecific and easily misdiagnosed. Above ground symptoms include stunting, chlorosis, yellowing, leaf drop, reduced vigor, wilting or curling and twisting of leaves and stems [3], [4]. The main symptoms of nematode infection are found on the roots of the plant as root swollen and formulation of root galls. The size of galls varies depending on species and should not be confused with leguminous root nodules [4]. Root nodules are attached to the root and can be removed easily, root-knot galls cannot. Despite M. hapla being identified as a northern RKN adapted to temperate climates, it is found in lower numbers in Indonesia, however, problems caused by this nematode can still be found in some crop plantations especially in plants grown in the tropical areas with high elevation. This has occurred due to natural adaptation to the conditions that exist in Indonesia (Prihanto, 2003). Tomato, potato, cabbage, cauliflower, carrot, spring onion, chili, and some others vegetables are cultivated in areas with high elevation in Indonesia (350-700 m sea level). In Indonesia those plants are known as mountain crops. In Indonesia, management to control of the number of root-knot nematodes has been conducted in various ways including cultural practices (crop rotation), the use of resistant cultivars of plant, and the use of chemicals (nematicides) [5]. The use of cultural control methods to manage root-knot nematodes is the most environmentally sustainable method for limiting root-knot nematode damage. However, root-knot nematodes have very large host ranges and without careful planning cultural control methods will be unsuccessful [6]. Due to this, the most common control method used in Indonesia is chemical. The nematicides used one from the carbamate group (N- methylcarbamate) and include Carbofuran®, Curater™ and Furadan 3G™. However, pesticides belonging to the group of carbamate such as carbofuran are suspected to have detrimental effects on the environment and poor worker-safety profiles and many have been restricted in use or withdrawn from the market [7]. In addition, granular nematicides such as carbofuran more easy to apply, and exert nematicidal activity. Those with systemic action are usually very effective and persistent. However problems may occur if residues accumulate in edible plants [8]. Thus, it is become imperative ______________________________  Liana Dwi Sri Hastuti is currently pursuing PhD degree program in Biology research Department in Birkbeck, University of London, United Kingdom, PH_+628217364868. E-mail: liana.hastuti@usu.ac.id  Dr. Jane Nicklin is currently Senior Lecturer in Biology Research Department, Birkbeck University of London, United Kingdom. 01123456789. E-mail: j.nicklin@bbk.ac.uk.  Dr. Yurnaliza is currently Lecturer in Bilogy Department, University of Sumatera Utara, Indonesia. E-mail: Yurnaliza@gmail.com