Biological Control of Tomato Wilt Caused by Fusarium oxysporum F. SP. Lycopersici by Using Chaetomium cupreum

Abstract

Chaetomium cupreum was discovered and used for the biological control of tomato wilt, a disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici. Bi-culture test in laboratory showed that C. cupreum gave the highest inhibition activity to the test fungal pathogen. Percent inhibition of radial growth and zone of inhibition were 61.00% and 0.45 cm, respectively. However, the slide bi-culture test were observed under a binocular microscope showed an antagonistic action of C. cupreum against F. oxyporum f. sp. lycopersici. Macroconidia of a pathogen was broken and then the protoplast was released from fungal cells. Greenhouse trial was done by using 2x4 factorial in Randomized Complete Block Design. Results showed that C. cupreum had the antagonistic potential to control tomato wilt either by using it’s spore suspension of culture extract. The antagonist was as effective as Pentachloronitrobenzene both in sterilized soil and non-sterilized soils. This suggested that an antagonistic substance produced by C. cupreum played a major role for inhibition of the pathogen.