EFFECTS OF RHIZOBACTERIA ON TOMATO BACTERIAL CANCER AND WILT DISEASE

This study was conducted to determine the effects of rhizobacteria having high phosphorus solubilizing and nitrogen fixating ability, obtained from soil rhizosphere regions of tomato plants, on causal agent of tomato bacterial cancer and wilt disease [Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (Smith) Davis et al.] (Cmm). Twelve different rhizobacteria isolates were used in the study. In vitro tests revealed that antagonistic effects of the isolates on Cmm ranged from 13.16 to 88.44%. Based on the results of in vitro tests, rhizobacteria isolates with high impact on Cmm were selected and pot experiments as well as seed treatments were performed with these isolates. In pot experiments, combination of Pseudomonas koreensis + P. thivervalensis resulted in 52.78% disease suppression. Similarly, combination of P. koreensis + P. thivervalensis + P. koreensis was more effective than the rest of the treatments and resulted a disease suppression ratio of 72.97%. Further field experiments should be performed with the rhizobacteria isolates having the highest impact on Cmm in current study.