Verticillium nigrescens; a non-aggressive wilt pathogen as a promising biocontrol agent for Verticillium wilt of eggplant and cotton

摘要

Verticillium wilt caused by Verticillium dalhiae Kleb., is a well known serious disease of many economical crops and especially of cotton and eggplant. The fungus is widespread in most cotton cultivated areas as well as in horticultural areas in central Greece and is one of the greatest threats to cotton and greenhouse production. This severe pathogen was isolated many times from cotton plants showing symptoms of Verticillium wilt at several locations in central Greece. Verticillium nigrescens Pethybr., is a weak pathogen or a common soil inhabitant (Korolev & Katan, 1999). This pathogen was isolated from greenhouse tomato plants showing mild wilt symptoms. Cross protection of Verticillium wilt by V. nigrescens were reported for tomatoes by Gravanis & Xifilidou (2001). In the present study both organisms were used to determine cross protection effects on cotton (cv. 4S and Pandora) and eggplants (cv. Black Beauty) inplanta.