Effect of seed treatments and mulch on seedborne bacterial pathogens and yield of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.) in Tanzania
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Date
2010
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Animal & Plant Sciences
Abstract
The study was conducted to assess the presence of seedborne bacteria in four tomato
seedlots, the efficacy of seed treatments in reducing bacterial contamination and to
determine influence of seed treatment or mulch on crop development and yield. Tomato
seedlots were treated using hot water, chlorine, and Ridomil® followed by seedborne
bacteria pathogen detection. Seedlings from treated and non-treated seedlots were grown in
the field in mulched and non-mulched plots. Results showed that all seedlots assessed were
contaminated with Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (CMM), Xanthomonas
campestris pv. vesicatoria (XCV) and Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (PST). ‘Tanya G1’,
‘Tanya G2’ (first and second generation farmer-saved seeds respectively) and commercial
‘Cal J’ seedlots were more highly contaminated with XCV than commercial ‘Tanya’ seedlot.
‘Tanya G2’ had the highest PST contamination but did not differ from other seedlots for
CMM. Chlorine and hot water significantly reduced bacterial populations on seeds. Ridomil
seed treatment did not affect bacterial contamination compared to the untreated control.
Marketable fruit yield differed statistically (P = 0.01) for commercial ‘Tanya’ and ‘Cal J’
seedlots. Commercial ‘Tanya’ and ‘Tanya G1’ had higher yields compared to ‘Cal J’ and
‘Tanya G2’. There was no statistical difference (P = 0.05) among seed sources with respect
to incidence of blossom end rot (BER) and sunscald disorders. Chlorine and hot water
treatments led to higher number of fruits per plant and increased yield compared to Ridomil
treatment and the control. Seed treatment had no significant influence on BER. Plants from
hot water treatment produced statistically fewer sunscald fruits compared to control,
because of more vigorous growth that provided protective shade. The effect of mulch on the
yield components and in reduction of sun-scalded fruits was highly significant (P = 0.0001).
Seed treatment and mulch therefore can reduce disease infestation and improve tomato
yield.
Description
Journal of Animal & Plant Sciences, 2010. Vol. 8, Issue 3: 1006- 1015.
Publication date: 28/10/2010,
Keywords
Tomato, Seedborne bacteria, Bacterial spot, Bacterial canker, Bacterial speck, Mulch