4-Allyl-2-azetidinone and Penicillium simplicissimum Cooperate to Control Soilborne Fusarium Diseases

Abstract

When 4-allyl-2-azetidinone (B-143), without antifungal activity was applied to non-sterilized Kureha-soil (a commercial soil for gardening) artificially infested with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum, occurrence of Fusarium wilt disease of cucumber (Cucumis sativus) was apparently reduced. However, when the soil was sterilized by autoclaving and infested with the pathogen, no effect of B-143 treatment was observed. These phenomena suggest that the disease suppression with B-143 may depend on the existence of some organisms in Kureha-soil. When Penicillium simplicissimum No. 8, isolated from the non-sterilized Kureha-soil, was re-introduced to sterilized Kureha-soil or some other kinds of soil, the effect of B-143 treatment was reproduced. The effect was also observed in the control of other Fusarium diseases such as tomato Fusarium wilt, cabbage yellowing, and stock Fusarium wilt. The results suggested that B-143 together with P. simplicissimum No. 8 generally exerted the reduction of soilborne Fusarium diseases.