Abstract
BackgroundFusarium wilt of tomato caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (FOL) is a serious disease that causes significant economic losses in tomato production. Seventeen endophytic Bacillus isolates from tomato roots of Meghalaya were tested for antagonistic and plant growth promotion activities. Dominating arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) spores were isolated from the rhizosphere soils of tomato grown in Meghalaya. The effect of different combinations of AMF and endophytic Bacillus on Fusarium wilt severity and growth of tomato plant under pot and field conditions was studied.ResultsThe endophytic Bacillus isolates ERBS51 and ERBS10 showed a maximum inhibition against FOL, with 58.43 and 55.68%, respectively, in a dual culture experiment. ERBS51 and ERBS10 were identified as Bacillus velezensis and Bacillus sp., respectively, based on 16s rRNA sequencing. Both isolates were found positive for iturin A, surfactin, bacillomycin D, protease, cellulase, pectinase, alpha-amylase, siderophore, ammonia production and ZnCO3 solubilization. Funneliformis mosseae and Glomus fasciculatum were the dominating AMF species in tomato rhizosphere of Meghalaya. The result of pot and field experiments revealed that out of all the treatments, combination of Funneliformis mosseae + Glomus fasciculatum + Bacillus velezensis + Bacillus sp. was shown to be the best in reducing the severity of Fusarium wilt to 77.44 and 66.74%, respectively. F. mosseae + G. fasciculatum + B. velezensis + Bacillus sp. also recorded the highest in most growth attributes and yield.ConclusionsEndophytic Bacillus (B. velezensis and Bacillus sp.) and AMF (F. mosseae and G. fasciculatum) were safe and effective biocontrol agents against Fusarium wilt of tomato.
Highlights
Fusarium wilt of tomato caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (FOL) is a serious disease that causes significant economic losses in tomato production
Isolation of Fusarium wilt pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (FOL) was isolated from tomato plants showing Fusarium wilt symptoms indicated by vein clearing, yellowing of lower leaves followed by drooping of leaves and young stems along with drying of lower leaves or whole plants and vascular discolouration
Pathogenicity test When the isolated Fusarium oxysporum F. sp. lycopersici (FOL) from the diseased plant samples was inoculated on the healthy tomato seedlings by root dip method, Fusarium wilt symptoms were observed 7 days after inoculation
Summary
Fusarium wilt of tomato caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (FOL) is a serious disease that causes significant economic losses in tomato production. The effect of different combinations of AMF and endophytic Bacillus on Fusarium wilt severity and growth of tomato plant under pot and field conditions was studied. The use of fungicides and resistant varieties are the main practices for management of Fusarium wilt of tomato, but due to several environmental problems, achieving sustainable agriculture requires avoidance of chemical pesticides. Such chemical fungicides tend to accumulate in the food chain and have a detrimental impact on soil microorganisms (Lopez-Aranda et al 2016). Plant root diseases can be controlled by manipulation of microbes or by introducing them in soil (Vazquez et al 2000), representing a natural, safe, effective and durable alternative to the use of pesticides. Soil-borne pathogens like Fusarium wilt pathogen can be reduced by several soil microbes which have antagonistic action (Jamil et al 2021)
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