Seed Treatments for Management of Bacterial Canker in Tomato

Abstract

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) is one of the important vegetable because of its high nutritive value. However, the productivity remains restricted due to a number of seed borne pathogens. Bacterial canker is one of several bacterial diseases that can seriously affect tomato plants which is caused by Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. Michiganensis, a seed borne pathogen. Seed-disseminated phytopathogens exemplify the adaptive nature of parasites, including the causal agent of bacterial canker of tomato. Hence the seed health management is an important aspect in tomato cultivation. The objective of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of copper-based compounds, antibiotics and biocontrol agents (Trichoderma and Pseudomonas spp.) in reducing the populations and spread of C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis. In the in vitro studies, Streptomycin sulphate was found to be the most effective treatment amongst the chemicals screened showing a zone of inhibition of 2.33cm dia. whereas amongst the biocontrol agent screened, Pant biocontrol agent-1 (PBAT-1), a T. harzianum isolate was found to be the most effective showing 89.5% growth inhibition.