Ahlem Nefzi
Tunisia
Research Article
Grafting Tomato Cultivars for Soil Borne Disease Suppression and Plant Growth and Yield Improvement
Author(s): Hayfa Jabnoun-Khiareddine, Rania Aydi Ben Abdallah, Mejda Daami-Remadi, Ahlem Nefzi, and Fakher AyedHayfa Jabnoun-Khiareddine, Rania Aydi Ben Abdallah, Mejda Daami-Remadi, Ahlem Nefzi, and Fakher Ayed
Soil borne fungal diseases are among the most damaging diseases of tomato in Tunisia. Among them, Fusarium wilt (FW) caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (FOL) races 1 and 2, Fusarium Crown and Root Rot (FCRR) incited by F. oxysporum f. sp. radicis lycopersici, and Verticillium wilt (VW) due to Verticillium dahliae (Vd) races 1 and 2 are of particular concern. In the current study, the grafting of three scion tomato cultivars (cvs. Kawthar, Amal and Malinche) onto the interspecific hybrid rootstock Maxifort was evaluated for diseases management and plant growth and yield improvement. Under artificial inoculation conditions, the present study demonstrates that the plant response to the tested pathogens (Vd races 1 and 2, FOL races 1 and 2 and FORL) used for inoculation differed according to the tomato cultivars used, the grafting treatment and their interactions. Overall, gr.. View More»