Archivio Journal of Plant Pathology

Abstract:

Several antagonist strains of Pseudomonas spp., including Pseudomonas putida, and Fusarium oxysporum were evaluated on seeds of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) cv. Crispilla Blanca as treatments against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae in comparison with standard chemical treatments and biological products available in commerce. Assessment of the efficacy of the seed treatments was done in vivo under controlled conditions in a glasshouse. Seed treatments with Pseudomonas strains showed in most cases a limited efficacy but were statistically comparable with those obtained by chemical treatments with Prochloraz and Thiram, in terms of infected plants and disease index. Seed treatments with Fusarium oxysporum strain MSA35 were slightly phytotoxic as they affected the germination rate of treated seeds. The efficacy of the tested seed treatments with biocontrol agents for controlling the pathogen was not totally satisfactory but amenable to improvements and combination with other strategies of seed sanitization.