Investigation on the interaction between Meloidogyne javanica and Verticillium dahliae on tomato

Document Type : Research Article

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Abstract

Interaction between nematode Meloidogyne javanica and fungus Verticillium dahliae on tomato in greenhouses were investigated.Nematode and the fungus inoculated in different time intervals, nematode two weeks before the fungus, nematode and the fungus at the same time, fungus two weeks before the nematode, nematode alone and the fungus alone and the interaction of the pathogen agents were tested.The results showed that the presence of the both of the pathogens in the soil can lead to the greatest reduction in growth factors and the reduction in nematode two weeks before the fungus and nematode+ fungus (simultaneous) treatments was more significant.The highest disease severity index was observed after 90 days in the nematode two weeks before the fungus treatment, that was significantly different with fungus alone treatment and in all fungus received treatments disease severity index was more than two.Presence of the nematode M. javanica increased severity and rate of wilting caused by V. dahliae on tomato while the presence of fungus, reduced nematode pathogenicity and population indices.The least amount of vascular tissue browning index and stem colonization percent was observed in treatment with fungus alone inoculated and in other words, nematode increases vascular tissue browning index and stem colonization percent.The highest plant height reduction observed in the treatments where both of the pathogens were present.The interaction between pathogen agents with reduction in growth factors indices and increase in tomato wilt disease increases the damage to the plant

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