Biomanagement ofFusariumwilt of tomato by the soil application of certain phosphatesolubilizing microorganisms

The effects of soil application of Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Aspergillus awamori, A, niger and Penicillium digitatum on the plant growth, biomass production, yield and the rhizospheric population of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici on tomato were investigated in a field trial. Plant growth and yield variables of uninoculated plants were increased after application of all the tested phosphate solubilizers. Application of A. awamori and A. niger resulted in an 80% and 58% increase in the yield, respectively. The yield (weight of fruits/plant) of plants inoculated with F. oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici was significantly increased by all the phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms, especially with A. niger (53%), A. awamori (42%), P. digitatum (38%) and B. subtilis (28%). Application of phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms also decreased the rhizosphere population of the wilt fungus by 23?49%. Keywords: Fusariumoxysporum F.SP Lycopersici Plant Growth Promoting MicroorganismsTomato Yield