International Journal of Agricultural Science Research Vol. 4(5), pp. 092-097, May 2015 ISSN 2327-3321 ©2015 Academe Research Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Dominant pathogenic of Lycopersicum esculentum Mill

O. Shainidze and S. Ghoghoberidze*

Department of Agroecology and Forestry, Faculty of Technology, Batumi Shota Rustaveli State, Batumi, Georgia.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: otari.shainidze@rambler.ru Tel:+(995)577434384.

Accepted 15 April, 2015

Abstract

The composition of pathogenic fungi of the staple agricultural crop - tomato plant (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill) is discussed in this paper. 32 species and 6 forms of fungi have been totally identified. 7 species of fungi involved in forming of consortium on leaves of tomato plants have been specified as well. The long-term monitoring has shown that the dominant pathogenic fungus Fusarium sp. nov. spread to tomato plants causes the greatest damage and economic losses. Favorable and unfavorable weather conditions of its spread and development have been ascertained. Experiments clarified that Fusarium sp. nov. widely-spread to tomato plants (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill) significantly differs from the other species of genus Fusarium in its symptoms, morphological-anatomical structures, aggressiveness and injuriousness. It can completely destroy the certain varieties of tomato plants in separate localities within a day. The disease causes the drying of leaves, the fruit rot and the early drying of plants from flowering to harvesting periods. The areal of its spread has been ascertained. Besides Georgia, the disease was observed in agrocenoses of Artvin in the Republic of Turkey. The biological method such as the antagonistic fungus Trichoderma lignorum against the pathogen proved to be the most effective among the agro-technical, sanitary – hygienic, chemical, biological and other types of controls used against Fusarium species. In particular, soil should be treated with 4% of the suspension of Trichoderma lignorum. It is also necessary to select the disease resistant varieties.

Key words: Tomatoes, disease, Fusarium, variety, wilt, consortium.