INFLUENCE OF BIOFUMIGATION WITH MUSTARD OR CANOLA SEED MEAL IN CONTROLLING SOIL-BORNE PATHOGENIC FUNGI OF CHICKPEA

Abstract

Damping-off and root-rot are important diseases attacking chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in Egypt. The effect of biofumigation, using mustard (Brassica juncea) and canola (Brassica napus) seed meals were evaluated to control damping-off and root-rot diseases of chickpea in vitro and in vivo (under greenhouse and field conditions trials) conducted in Sers-Ellian Agricultural Research Station, Menoufia governorate, Egypt, in 2016/2017 and 2017/2018. Both mustard and canola seed meals significantly decreased the linear growth of the tested pathogenic fungi, i.e., Fusarium oxysporum, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Rhizoctonia solani, this decrease was more important with the increasing of concentration when compared with the control. The fungicidal effect of mustard and canola seed meals against the tested fungi was demonstrated under greenhouse and field conditions. Obtained results indicated that mustard and canola seed meals significantly reduced the percentages of damping-off severity furthermore improved growth parameters, i.e., plant height, pods number per plant and 100-seed weight. Mustard seed meal recorded the highest values of reduction in this respect as well as, significantly increased nodulation statusof rhizobium (Mesorhizobium ciceri) i.e., number of nodules, nodules fresh and dry weights on chickpea roots in pots and field experiments. Mustard seed meal was superior. It could be concluded, that applying of such biofumigation procedure in the control of chickpea damping-off and root rot diseases on the field scale may offer a practical complement environmentally safe measure to control soil-borne pathogens, and may be combined in an integrated diseases management regime.