Potential use of vermicompost against tomato bacterial canker and wilt disease

This study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of vermicompost (VC) in the control of tomato bacterial canker and wilt disease (Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis), which causes significant yield losses in tomato production. In pot experiments, vermicompost was added to pot soil at 10, 20, 30 and 40% doses. In field experiments, vermicompost was applied to soil at a dose of 600 kg/da. In pot experiments, effect of vermicompost on disease severity varied between 53.4 and 90.8%. In 40% VC treatments, a low rate of lesions was detected in vascular bundles and the disease infection was suppressed by 66.77%. In field experiments, a low rate of disease was also detected in VC-treated plants and disease severity was affected by 66.6%. The infection rate in vascular bundles was suppressed by 69.9%. Present findings revealed that vermicompost significantly suppressed tomato bacterial canker and wilt disease and it could be used as an important component of integrated pests and disease management.