Effect of mulch, irrigation, spray program, and Bacillus spp. on fresh market tomato

The effects of mulch, irrigation, fungicide spray program and three Bacillus spp. strains on plant growth and disease development in tomato cv. 'Mountain Spring' were evaluated under greenhouse and field conditions. Under greenhouse conditions, inoculation of seedlings with Bacillus strain...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Phytopathology 2005-06, Vol.95 (6)
Main Authors: Nava-Diaz, C, Abdelalim, F, Kleinhenz, M, Doohan, D, Ivey, M L, Miller, S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bacillus
Lycopersicon esculentum
Septoria
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Summary:The effects of mulch, irrigation, fungicide spray program and three Bacillus spp. strains on plant growth and disease development in tomato cv. 'Mountain Spring' were evaluated under greenhouse and field conditions. Under greenhouse conditions, inoculation of seedlings with Bacillus strains GBO3+IN937 resulted in a significant increase in plant height and fresh and dry weight. Rhizosphere Bacillus spp. population densities ranged from 4.6-5.9 log cfu plant super(-1). Under field conditions, plant height was significantly affected by both mulch and Bacillus spp. Plant residue mulch decreased plant height the first year under dry growing conditions and increased plant height the second year under wet conditions. Plants inoculated with MBI600 were taller than the non-inoculated control plants both years, while GBO3+IN937-inoculated plants were taller than the control in the first year only. In both years, neither irrigation nor fungicide affected plant height. Plant residue mulch and fungicides decreased the severity of foliar diseases (early blight, septoria leaf spot and bacterial spot). No differences in disease severity were found among Bacillus spp. treated plants in the first year. During the second season GBO3+IN937-inoculated plants showed the highest level of disease severity.
ISSN:0031-949X