Effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae and Bacillus subtilis on the infection of tomato roots by Fusarium oxysporum [electronic resource].

Includes reference.

Two biocontrol agents, i.e., arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) .Glomus mosseae, and a plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) Bacillus subtilis (BS) were tested separately and together for suppression of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (FOL) on tomato plants, under greenhouse conditions. Infestation of soils with FOL drasticaIly reduced plant growth parameters (root and shoot length, number of branches, number of leaves, fresh and dry weights of roots and shoots) and increased the root / shoot ratios, compared., to non-infested ones. However, the detrimental effects caused by FOL infestation were less detectl:d in G. mosseae andlQr B. subtilis inOCulated treatment. G. mosseae and B. subtilis enhanced also the nutrient content (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe and Zn) of the infected plants and the pigment content of their leaves, particularly in dual inoculation ofthe two microorganisms. Treatment with single or mixture of the two biocontrol, agents reduced. disease severity by 85-93.4%. The pathogen reduced root , colonization by the mycorrhizal fungus, however, the presenl;e of B. subtilis increased the percentage of colonization. G, mosseae and / or B. .su~!ili~reduced, I:towever,the Percentage of fusarium infecticm in . tomato roots.

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