Susceptibility of Greek alfalfa and clover cultivars to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. medicaginis and potential methods of disease control

Abstract

The fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. medicaginis (Fom), as verified following Koch’s postulates, was isolated from diseased alfalfa plants, cv. Yliki, in Greece. The susceptibility of eight most cultivated in Greece alfalfa and two clover cultivars was tested using seedlings that were artificially inoculated according to the root-dipping method. All alfalfa cultivars were susceptible to Fom, while the fungus was non pathogenic to clover cultivars. The effectiveness of the biological agents 4F3 (nit mutant of non-pathogenic F. oxysporum isolate) and 618–12B17 (non-pathogenic benomyl resistant F. oxysporum mutant), the chemical substances s-aminobutyric acid and Bion and fungicide carbendazim was evaluated regarding disease control. Disease incidence was suppressed in association with carbendazim, 4F3, 618–12B17 and Bion treatments.