Ten bacterial strains, selected from a bulk of isolates recovered from tomato
rhizosphere, were tested for their ability to induce systemic resistance or bio-control
agents against Meloidogyne  incognita in tomato under greenhouse condition.
Results showed that all ten tested bacterial strains showed significant reduction in
nematode development and reproduction. The most effective strains were
Methylomonas methanica,  Bacillus  cereus,  Bacillus  brevis  and Obesumbacterium
proteus. They were achieving the highest reduction in nematode total population
and fecundity. Plant growth was improved as a result of application of rhizobacteria.
Antioxidant enzymes activity for both peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase were
elevated in bacteriazied plants compared nematode infected plant as well as total
phenol content. Results revealed that crude culture suspension of bacteria was
more effective for reducing nematode population followed by cell-free culture
filtrates, bacterial live cells and bacterial dead cells suspension, sequentially. It was
concluded that these bacteria able to suppress M. incognita as resistance inducers
for tomato plants or bio-control agents.