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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #69187
Title: EFFICACY OF VARIOUS BIOCONTROL ORGANISMS IN THE CONTROL OF FUSARIUM WILT OFTOMATO

Author
item Larkin, Robert - Bob
item Fravel, Deborah

Submitted to: National American Phytopathology Meetings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/9/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: NA.

Technical Abstract: Numerous fungi and bacteria, including existing biocontrol strains with known activity against soilborne fungal pathogens, were tested for their efficacy in controlling Fusarium wilt of tomato. Antagonist-treated seedlings were transplanted into pathogen-infested field soil in the greenhouse. Organisms tested included nonpathogenic strains of Fusarium oxysporum, Trichoderma spp., Gliocladium virens, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Burkholderia cepacia, and several others. Specific nonpathogenic isolates of F. oxysporum were the most effective antagonists, providing significant and consistent disease control (50-80% reduction of disease incidence) in several repeated tests. These isolates also were equally effective in controlling Fusarium wilt diseases of other crops, including watermelon, muskmelon, and basil. Other organisms provided varying degrees of disease control (10-60%), but were not as consistently effective as the nonpathogenic F. oxysporum isolates. Combinations of antagonists did not provide significantly better control than the nonpathogenic F. oxysporum antagonists alone.