Laboratory and greenhouse experiments were conducted to investigate the efficacy of a biological control agent (Trichoderma harzianum) against the soil-borne plant pathogen (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici) as compared with a traditional fungicide (Vitavax ® -200). Results indicated that T. harzianum was more effective than Vitavax ® -200 for radial growth inhibition. Through seedling dip and soil application, Vitavax ® -200 was more effective than T. harzianum where it recorded the least wilt incidence comparing to untreated control, but it gave a shorter height of tomato plant than T. Harzianum with significant differences between them. Also, application of T. harzianum as antagonistic agent significantly increased the plant height and increased fruit yield/plant without significant differences with Vitavax ® when compared with untreated control.

No abstract

Mulching by 100 µ thickness transparent plastic sheets compared with specific fungicides for controlling soil borne fungi were carried out at Al-Sabahia, Horticulture Research Station, Alexandria Governorate, Egypt. Solar heating resulted from mulching gradually reduced the tested soil borne-fungi to very low levels, comparable with non-mulched treatment. Soil Temperature, fungal frequency and tomato yield were recorded during the experimental seasons. The results indicated that there were no significant differences between the three months mulching and specific fungicides treatments effect against soil borne fungi. So, it could be concluded that possibility of using mulching method to control soil-borne diseases pathogens in the clay loam soil by planting the crop in solarized fields.The results also proved significant effect of the soil solarization on the vegetative growth of tomato plants and enhanced the yield and its components compared with the control. The results for the total yield per feddan proved that there were no significant differences between the treated root with fungicide and the three month soil solarization treatments in both seasons. The percentages increase in the estimated total yield per feddan were 21.40, 18.95, 12.40 and 3.11% for treated root with fungicide, three, two and one month treatments over the control, respectively in 2014 season, whereas, they were 25.65, 22.51, 16.40 and 9.52% for the same treatments, respectively in the 2015 season.

Pea pod rots are the most important diseases affecting pea pods and seeds during harvest, transportation and storage. Fusarium oxysporium f.sp. pisi was the most pathogenic fungus isolated from pea pod rots. Peppermint extract was the most effective in inhibiting the mycelial growth and conidial germination of the tested Fusarium followed by anise extract. Clove oil was the most effective against F. oxysporium linear growth and conidial germination followed by onion oil. Fennel oil had the least effect Trichoderma harzianum caused 82.03% inhibition of F. oxyssporium linear growth. Pea seeds infected with F. oxysoprium showed decreased in free amino acids content.