Control of Bacterial Wilt Disease Caused by Ralstonia solanacearum in Pepper using Arbuscular Mychorrhizal Fungi (Mykovam)

Abstract

Soil-borne antagonists Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) Mykovam were evaluated for their ability to suppress the growth of Ralstonia solanacearum.  The experiment utilized two hundred (200) hot pepper seedlings as test plants that were grown in the seedling trays. The recommended rate of AMF Mykovam were introduced to half of the seedling population (100 seedlings) while leaving the other half untreated. Introduction of AMF was borne by incorporating them in the soil seven (7) days prior to the inoculation of pure culture of Ralstonia solanacearum.  Fastest rate of infection caused by R. solanacearum was observed on untreated seedlings three (3) days after inoculation while the highest infection were on the second (31%) and third (28%) week. T-test results showed highly significant difference between the seedlings with and without AMF treatments. Rate of infection from seedlings treated with AMF ended on the early days of second week possibly due to the presence of AMF colonizing the roots of hot pepper seedlings which compete for the nutrients and produces substance that caused to antagonize the disease -causing pathogens. Hence, applying inoculum of AMF at early seedling stage of hot pepper to infect the roots and protect them for the entry of pathogenic microorganism R. solanacearum is recommended.

Keywords: Mycorrhizal Fungi, Ralstonia solanacearum