EFFICACY OF SOME ORGANIC COMPOUNDS IN CONTROLLING FUSARIUM WILT DISEASE, GROWTH, AND YIELD PARAMETERS IN CHICKPEA PLANTS

Abstract

Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri causes considerable yield loss of chickpea. The possibility to reduce wilt severity in chickpea cv. Giza 3 using some organic compounds viz., Inicium, Bio-Health, Alga Grow-4, Humic acid and tea of date palm leaves compost was investigated. The obtained data indicated that all tested organic compounds were able to reduce area under wilt progress curve (AUWPC) caused by F. oxysporum f. sp. ciceris under greenhouse and field conditions. Humic acid recorded the highest reduction of AUWPC followed by Inicium. While, Alga Grow-4 gave the lowest reduction in this respect. On the other hand, all organic compounds significantly increased the tested growth and yield parameters except protein content in seeds during growing seasons 2014-2015 and 2015-216. Humic acid recorded the highest increase of all tested growth and yield parameters in both growing seasons. While Alga Grow-4 gave the lowest ones in this respect. In biochemical studies, activity of defense-related enzymes, including peroxidase (PO), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), pathogenesis related (PR) protein as well as phenolic compounds (total, free, conjugated phenols) were increased in plants treated with organic compounds and grown in pots infested with F. oxysporum f. sp. ciceris compared with untreated plants (control). In general, Humic acid recorded the highest activity of PO, PPO, PAL, β-1,3 glucanase, phenolic contents followed by Inicium, while Inicium recorded the highest chitinase activity followed by Humic acid. On contrary, Alga Grow -4 gave the lowest activity of PO, PPO, and PAL. The lowest activity of chitinase and β-1,3 glucanase and phenolic contents was recorded in case of compost –T treatment.