Effect of alternative seed treatments on seed-borne fungal diseases in tomato

The fungus Didymella lycopersici infects tomato seed and results in great losses before and after germination. To control the disease, seed companies use thiram preventively, although human allergy problems have been reported. For this reason as well as to address needs in organic agriculture, this study has focused on the effects of alternative methods of control. Nitrite solutions and resistance inducers were tested in a growth chamber. Results showed that soaking the seed in a nitrite solution with a concentration of 300mΜ (in citric acid buffer, pH 2) for 10 minutes reduced losses due to low seed germination and disease incidence in the germinated seedlings completely. When applied for longer intervals sodium nitrite proved phytotoxic whereas in shorter intervals it was not as effective. The resistance inducer Tillecur (mustard seed extract) at the rate of 0.05g/ml was as much effective as sodium nitrite inhibiting disease incidence in germinated seedlings. None of the above treatments was significantly different to thiram and they could replace the fungicide in the control of seedborne D. lycopersici in tomato

Control of Leveillula taurica in tomato by Acremonium alternatum is by induction of resistance, not Hyperparasitism

Spores of the hyperparasite Acremonium alternatum reduced powdery mildew infection by Leveillula taurica on greenhouse tomato. The effect was slightly increased when spores were applied killed, and therefore not due to direct parasitism. The effect was systemic, protecting untreated leaves above the treated ones. Spores killed by heat had more effect than when killed by UV, so the effect was presumably due to induction of host resistance by substances released when cells were heat killed. The size of the effect depended upon leaf age and level of infection. Effects on primary infection and expansion of successful infections appear to be under independent control

Effect of alternative strategies for the disinfection of tomato seed infected with bacterial canker (Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis)

Currently there is a lack of effective seed treatments for bacterial pathogens, with Cu-based compounds (the only chemical treatments permitted under organic farming standards) only providing partial control. The aim of this study was to quantify the effect of alternative treatments for the control of bacterial canker (Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis), a major seed-borne bacterial disease in tomato. Treatments assessed were acidified nitrite (a treatment previously shown to control the seed-borne fungal disease Didymella lycopersici), antagonistic strains of Bacillus spp. and compost extracts, which were not previously evaluated as treatments for seed-borne diseases. Efficacy of treatments was determined in a seed disinfection assay. Ten-minute immersion of seed in 300 mmol l−1 acidified nitrite resulted in 98% being pathogen free. Copper hydroxide, certain strains of Bacillus spp. and all compost extracts resulted in 100% pathogen free seed. © 2011 Royal Netherlands Society for Agricultural Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved