Antagonistic Activity of Pseudomonas Fluorescens Against Fusarium Oxysporum f. sp. Nievum Isolated from Soil Samples in Palestine

Mazen Salman,Mohammad Jawabrih,Sameer A Barghouthi,Nabil Shahin,Basima Abu Rumaileh,Nawaf Abu-Khalaf,Ruba Abuamsha

doi:10.5539/jps.v6n2p1

Abstract

Watermelon is an important summer crop in Palestine, for several decades filling the needs of local market and some Arab countries. The yield of watermelon decreased dramatically in recent years due to severe infections with the soil borne fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum (FON). Soil fumigation with methyl bromide was commonly applied by Palestinian farmers until it was recently legally banned. Different control mechanisms were not feasible to overcome problems caused by the disease resulting in decreased watermelon cultivation in Palestine for the past 30 years. In this work, we have experimentally shown that Pseudomonas fluorescens was efficient in controlling FON infection and allowing normal seedling growth of both the root and shoot systems. Field experiments are necessary to further confirm the efficacy of biocontrol application.

Highlights

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L.) is an economically important vegetable crop in many parts of the world
A number of reasons caused the dramatic decline in watermelon cultivation, of which Fusarium Wilts caused by formae speciales of Fusarium oxysporum that are generally considered host specific (Martyn, 2012; Ren et al, 2015; Meyer et al, 2016)
It was found that some bacterial isolates were capable of preventing the growth of F. oxysporum f. sp. niveum under in vitro conditions and in pot experiments, respectively

Summary

Introduction

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L.) is an economically important vegetable crop in many parts of the world. According to FAOSTAT (2014), the watermelon cultivated area was estimated to be 356 ha during the period from 2001-2008 with an average yield of 13,777 tons. The watermelon area decreased by more than 65% and the total annual production was reduced by more than 75% (FAOSTAT, 2014). A number of reasons caused the dramatic decline in watermelon cultivation, of which Fusarium Wilts caused by formae speciales of Fusarium oxysporum that are generally considered host specific (Martyn, 2012; Ren et al, 2015; Meyer et al, 2016). Niveum (FON) is one of the most severe diseases in watermelon and a major limiting factor for watermelon production in the world (Martyn & McLanghlin, 1983; Peng et al, 2013). The use of fungicides is not always feasible due to economic and ecological reasons

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