Inhibition of seed germination and development of tomato plants in soil infested with Pseudomonas tomato

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
SUMMARY: Infestation of sterilised or natural soil with Pseudomonas tomato at inoculum concentrations of 102 to 109 propagules/ml inhibited germination of seeds and caused damping‐off of tomato cv. VF‐198, susceptible to bacterial speck. Infestation with saprophytic P. fluorescens at an inoculum concentration of 109 propagules/ml did not cause any damage. Germination of seeds of tomato cv. Rehovot‐13, resistant to P. tomato, was not affected in P. tomato‐infested natural soil, but was inhibited when tested in P. tomato‐infested, sterilised soil. Tomato plants which were symptomless from sowing to the flowering stage when growing in infested soil had 20–30% less foliage than plants growing in uninfested soil.