Effectiveness of Pseudomonas species in the management of tomato early blight pathogen Alternaria solani

Abstract

Management of tomato early blight pathogen (Alternaria solani) has relied principally on application of synthetic fungicides. The use of biological control agents has been recognized as a viable option to synthetic chemicals in plant disease control. The present study evaluated the effects of Pseudomonas fluorescens, P. aeruginosa, P. putida, and P. cepacia on tomato early blight pathogen and investigated their efficacy on the yield components and yield of tomato plants infected with A. solani. Tomato seeds raised in the nursery beds were transplanted to the main field after three weeks. The experiment was laid in a randomized complete block. Treatment application was done by immersion of roots of threeweek-old seedlings of tomato in Pseudomonas solution prior to transplanting. The treatments consisted of plots treated with P. fluorescens, P. aeruginosa, P. putida, P. cepacia and the control. Data were collected on disease severity, plant height, stem girth, number of fruits per plant, fruit length and fruit weight. Tomato plants in the control plot had significantly (p<0.05) higher disease severity (52.0) There was no significant difference in the severities of early blight on tomato plants treated with P. fluorescens, P. putida and P. cepacia. Tomato plants treated with P. aeruginosa had significantly (p<0.05) higher height (39.0 cm) than all other treatments. There was no significance difference in the fruit weights of tomato plants treated with P. fluorescens, P. aeruginosa, P. putida, and P. cepacia. Tomato plants in the control plots had a significantly lower fruit weight (69.5 g). Findings of the present study demonstrated a promising approach of biological control of early blight pathogen with Pseudomonas species. Results of this work could be used as bedrock for formulation of an effective and eco-friendly strategy for the management of early blight disease.

Effect of Selected Bio-agents and Botanical on Alternarial Leafspot of Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) Caused by Alternaria alternata (Fries) Keissler

“…Bacillus species have become attractive biological control agents due to their ability to produce hard, resistant endospores and antibiotics which control a broad range of plant pathogens. And the present findings are the same as [3].…”

“…"The coriander plant is mainly used for making sauces and salads on the other hand, the fruits are blended into powder for flavoring various products like meat, fish, sodas, pickles, bakery and curry recipes" [3]. "The coriander plant parts and seeds are used by people as short-cut medicines for various body problems" [2].…”

Combining Biocontrol Agent With Plant Nutrients for Integrated Control of Tomato Early Blight Through the Modulation of Physio-Chemical Attributes and Key Antioxidants

“…For the treatments, T 3 , T 5 , T 7 , and T 9 , 10 days after nutrient application, tomato plants were initially treated (sprayed) with 10–15 ml of microbial suspension (BS-01) prepared in PBS (OD595 nm = 2.0) ( Abiodun et al, 2017 ); after 24 h, these treated plants were inoculated with 10–15 ml of conidial suspension.…”

Biological control of tomato early blight in Pakistan using local rhizobacteria

“…A number of studies demonstrated the strategy to have promise, for example Pseudomonas spp. is on par with chemical fungicides in reducing disease severity and increasing tomato fruit weight compared to controls 9,10 . Strains of Bacillus spp.…”

“…is on par with chemical fungicides in reducing disease severity and increasing tomato fruit weight compared to controls. 9,10 Strains of Bacillus spp. also have been promising candidates as biological control agents for early blight disease on tomato.…”