Effect of wild oats green manure on soil microflora and diseases of tomato

Abstract

Effect of wild oats green manure application on Pythium damping off, Rhizoctonia damping off, Fusarium wilt, Verticillium wilt, and bacterial wilt of tomato was examined, using soils infested with one of the pathogens. Slowly progressing diseases such as Verticillium wilt were suppressed. Mycelial growth of Verticillium dahliae was significantly delayed on agar media amended with wild oats extract, but not for the other fungal pathogens. The indigenous soil microflora was altered, as shown by soil dilution plating, fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis and PCR-DGGE, after the application of the wild oats. A combination of plant substances from wild oats suggested to alter the soil microflora and to suppress disease.