The Effects of Biological and Chemical Treatment on Gray Mold Disease in Tomatoes Grown under Greenhouse Conditions

Authors: FİGEN YILDIZ, MEHMET YILDIZ, NAFİZ DELEN, ARZU COŞKUNTUNA, PERVİN KINAY, HÜSEYİN TÜRKÜSAY

Abstract: A total of 163 bacterial strains isolated from tomato leaves were evaluated for their ability to suppress gray mold (Botrytis cinerea Pers. ex Fr.) on tomatoes, and 4 strains consistently reduced the incidence of B. cinerea. These antagonist strains were identified as Pseudomonas fluorescens. The bacterial strains with in vitro resistance to fungicides were combined with low-dose fenhexamid in vivo. One strain of P. fluorescens (Pf163) reduced the disease incidence by an average of 78% on tomato plants inoculated with B. cinerea in greenhouse trials. In comparison to the control treatment, other P. fluorescens strains applied with low-dose fenhexamid reduced the incidence of decay by 74.17%, 70.52%, and 65.74%, respectively. The antagonists significantly reduced gray mold decay when combined with low-dose (12.5 ml a.i. hl^{-1}) fenhexamid more than the control did. It was shown that antagonistic bacterial strains inhibited B. cinerea and that they have a potential use in combination with the fungicide in greenhouse experiments.

Keywords: Tomato, Botrytis cinerea, Pseudomonas fluorescens, biocontrol, chemical control

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