Control of Bacterial Wilt Disease of Tomato Through Integrated Crop Management Strategies

Abstract

Tomato cultivation is severely affected by bacterial wilt disease caused by the soilborne pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum (previously known as Pseudomonas solanacearum Smith). Effects of rotation of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) with other crops on soil populations of R. solanacearum and on bacterial wilt disease incidence of tomato were evaluated in the field. Monocropped Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz), Mucuna puriens L., Crotalaria juncea L., and intercrops of Cassava/Crotalaria, Cassava/Mucuna, and a natural grass mix (control) were rotated with the tomato cvs. Mira, Ronita, Roma VFN, and Ibadan Local. Monocropped Mucuna significantly reduced soil population of R. solanacearum by the end of the rotation period, whereas the natural grass rotation had the highest population of the pathogen. Other crops with the exception of monocropped cassava also reduced the pathogen soil population. The incidence of wilt was delayed in cvs. Mira, Roma VFN, and Ronita compared to ‘Ibadan Local’, but all were 80% or more infected after 8 weeks.