Integration of Pseudomonas fluorescens and acibenzolar-S-methyl to control bacterial spot disease of tomato

Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. vesicatoria was isolated from infected tomato seedlings grown in an open field in Egypt. All the tested isolates infected tomato plants but with different degrees of disease severity. In an attempt to manage this disease, tomato seeds and/or seedlings were treated with an antagonistic local isolate of Pseudomonas fluorescens as a suspension or its formulation or acibenzolar-S-methyl (BTH). When the above three treatments were applied to tomato seeds under laboratory conditions, they improved seed germination and seedlings vigour relative to control seeds treated with sterile distilled water and pathogen but P. fluorescens culture was the most effective. Under greenhouse and field conditions, combinations of the above treatments were used. All treatments significantly reduced disease severity of bacterial spot in tomato relative to the infected control. The biggest disease reduction compared to seedlings inoculated with the pathogen alone resulted from a foliar application of P. fluorescens. Combined application of P. fluorescens or its formulation with BTH reduced the pathogen population and increased seedling biomass and tomato yield relative to control seedlings. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.