Biological Control of Orobanche Ramosa by Fusarium Solani

Objective: The main objective of this study was to screen and evaluate the potential of fungi that isolated from Orobanche ramosa with potential as biological control agents against the parasitic weed, in laboratory and greenhouse experiments. Methods: In this investigation, isolates of Fusarium solani were recovered from diseased broomrapecollected from tomato, eggplant, melon, and watermelon fields in Southern Khorasan.The pathogenicity of isolates was evaluated on O. ramosa stem and seed. Fusariumdamaged all of the developmental stages and prevented the damage that broomrapecauses to plants. Results: The germination of inoculated seed was significantly reduced, germ tubes of microconidia penetrated all parts of the thick, complex seed testa, and seed contents were destroyed. Pathogenicity tests indicated that F. solani caused lesionsof black soft rot and complete deterioration within 5-7 days (100%). They also attacked Orobanche seeds, arresting their germination and causing maceration of non-germinated and germinated seeds after 5-7 days of incubation. This is the first investigation of the effects of F. solani on host plant interactions with broomrape in melon.

Keywords:

Biocontrol , Broomrape , Tomato , Melon , Watermelon