Journal of Agricultural Science and Food Research
Open Access
ISSN: 2593-9173
ISSN: 2593-9173
Nefzi Ahlem
Tunisia
Research Article
Biostimulation of Tomato Growth and Suppression of Fusarium Crown and Root Rot Disease Using Fungi Naturally Associated to Lycium arabicum
Author(s): Nefzi Ahlem, Aydi Ben Abdallah Rania, Jabnoun-Khiareddine Hayfa, Ammar Nawaim, Somai Lamia, Hamada Walid, Haouala Rabiaa and Daami-Remad MejdaNefzi Ahlem, Aydi Ben Abdallah Rania, Jabnoun-Khiareddine Hayfa, Ammar Nawaim, Somai Lamia, Hamada Walid, Haouala Rabiaa and Daami-Remad Mejda
Seven fungal agents were isolated from native Lycium arabicum plants growing in the Tunisian Centre-East and were screened for their ability to inhibit Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis lycopersici (FORL) development and to promote plant growth. They were shown able to colonize tomato roots, crowns and stems. Seedlings inoculated or not with FORL and treated with these fungal isolates showed significant increments in all studied growth parameters (root length, shoot height, and fresh weight of roots and shoots). Tested as conidial suspensions or cell-free culture filtrates, I15 and I18 isolates were found to be the most active leading to 85.7-87.5% decrease in leaf and root damage index and to 93.6-98.4% lowered vascular browning extent over FORL-inoculated and untreated control. These two bioactive and growth-promoting isolates (I15 and I18) were microscopically and.. View More»