MANAGEMENT OF RENIFORM NEMATODE (Rotylenchus reniformis Linford) ON PAWPAW (Carica papaya L.) USING BIOPESTICIDE FUNGUS (Paecilomyces lilacinus Thom.) IN MAIDUGURI, NIGERIA

Pots experiments were conducted twice in July 2025 to September 2025 and from October 2025 to December 2025 at the orchard of the Centre for Arid Zone Studies (CAZS) University of Maiduguri. The aim was to investigate the effect of Biopesticide fungus (Paecilomyces lilacinus) on Reniform Nematode (Rotylenchus reniformis) infecting pawpaw (Carica papaya L.). The seed variety used for the experiment was pink solo which was obtained from National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) Kano substation which is highly susceptible to Rotylenchus reniformis. Plastic pots 40 cm in diameter and 40 cm height were taken and disinfected with 4% formalin and filled with sterilized sandy loamy soil and eight (8) weeks old pawpaw seedlings was transplanted into the pots. Two (2) weeks after transplanting, each pawpaw seedling were inoculated with 2000 second stage juvenile of R. reniformis. Each experimental pot was drenched with respective treatment of, P. lilacinus spore concentration applied to soil at the rate of 0.76×102, 0.57×102, 0.38×102, 0.19×102 spore concentration/ml. Carbufuran 3G was applied at the rate of 3g per pot serve as check. Non-drenched pots served as control. After three months of crop growth, each experiment was terminated and data was taken on number of mixed population of R. reniformis recovered in the pawpaw soils and roots, fresh shoot and root lengths, dry shoot and root weights. All data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). Means obtained were separated using new Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (nDMRT) at P˂0.05. Analysis was done using the statistix software. Results obtained showed that P. lilacinus concentrations and Carbufuran were all effective in suppressing the population of R. reniformis in soils and roots of pawpaw. P. lilacinus at the application rate of 0.76×102 produced the highest suppression of nematode population with percentage change of (85.75% ) in soil and (98.90 %) in roots when compared with control (+172.45) and (86.65) respectively. The present study advocate the use of P. lilacinus for effective, eco-friendly, economically viable, and environmentally adaptable for nematode management in the study area.