Biological Control of Tomato Verticillium Wilt Disease by Talaromyces Flavus

Abstract

In this study, Talaromyces flavus a fungal antagonist, was isolated from soil samples collected from tomato fields in Tehran and the Western Azarbayjan provinces of Iran. Antagonistic effects of T. flavus isolates against Verticillium albo-atrum (V. a.-a.), the causal agent of tomato wilt disease were investigated under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. Soil samples from tomato fields in the Varamin and Uremia regions of Tehran and the Western Azarbayjan provinces respectively, were cultured on selective medium. T. flavus colonies were recovered after three weeks. In the laboratory experiments, antagonistic effects of volatile and non-volatile extracts of T. flavus isolates on V. a.-a. growth were investigated. Among isolates, five that caused higher growth inhibition of V. a.-a. were selected for greenhouse experiments. In the greenhouse, first inoculum of V. a.-a. and treatments affected by T. flavus isolates were prepared.