Effect of different organic amendments on lettuce fusarium wilt and on selected soilborne microorganisms. (19th October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gilardi, G.; Pugliese, M.; Gullino, M. L.; Garibaldi, A.
• Is Part Of: Plant pathology. Volume 65:Number 5(2016)
• Page Start: 704
• Page End: 712
• Publication Date: 2015-10-19
• Subjects: brassica flour and pellets -- cattle manure -- chicken manure -- compost -- Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae -- Lactuca sativa; Agricultural pests -- Periodicals; Plant diseases -- Periodicals; 632
• DOI: 10.1111/ppa.12460
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0032-0862

Abstract

Abstract : This study evaluated the effect of different organic amendments on lettuce fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae in pots under controlled conditions. Their effects on the density of the pathogen, on the total fungi and on fluorescent Pseudomonas spp. were also evaluated after two subsequent lettuce crops. A significant reduction in the severity of the symptoms of F. oxysporum f. sp. lactucae was found after the use of Brassica carinata pellets (52–79% reduction) and compost (49–67% reduction), while Brassica green manure and cattle and chicken manure only provided partial control of fusarium wilt. However, variations in effectiveness were observed for the same treatment in repeated trials. In general, an increase was observed in Pseudomonas and a decrease in fungal populations in the growing medium, which was obtained by mixing a blonde sphagnum peat and a sandy loam soil with B. carinata pellets and compost after two consecutive cropping cycles. Prolonging the Brassica and compost treatments from 30 to 60 days did not significantly affect disease severity, plant growth or the microbial population of the total fungi or Pseudomonas . The largest lettuce biomass was obtained in the non‐inoculated growing medium amended with brassica flour, chicken manure, B. carinata pellets and compost, as a consequence of fertilization. The treatment with B. juncea green manure, B. carinata (pellets and flour) and compost applied 30 days before planting led to promising results and merits further investigation for use under field conditions.