Suppression of anthracnose (Colletotrichum coccodes) of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) by bio fortified vermicompost

Abstract

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) stands as a widely cultivated and adaptable fruit, yet its production confronts numerous challenges, including both biotic and abiotic stresses. Among these, anthracnose disease, caused by the soil-borne pathogen Colletotrichum coccodes, stands out as a devastating ailment with global implications, leading to substantial economic losses in tomato cultivation. In this study, the potential utilization of bio fortified Vermicompost for anthracnose management was investigated. Organic control agents, namely Trichoderma harzianum, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Bacillus subtilis, were incorporated into the Vermicompost. The study assessed various antioxidants, plant growth markers, and disease incidence across different treatments at various intervals. The results revealed significant differences: tomato plants treated with bio fortified Vermicompost exhibited notable reductions in disease occurrence, improved growth, increased yields, and enhanced antioxidant activity. This highlights the promising role of bio fortified Vermicompost in managing anthracnose disease and enhancing tomato production. Among these treatments, the most noteworthy results were seen in plants treated with Trichoderma harzianum -enhanced Vermicompost, displaying the highest values recorded across the examined parameters. The data indicated that Tomato plants treated with Vermicompost enriched with Trichoderma exhibited the longest root length after 15 days of planting, followed by T2 and T3. The greatest dry weight was observed in plants treated with Trichoderma-enhanced Vermicompost. The highest PAL, PO, and PPO activity were noted in leaves from plants grown in Vermicompost fortified with T. harzianum (T1) at 48 hours, followed by T2, T3, and T4. The findings demonstrated that tomato plants treated with bio fortified Vermicompost displayed significant reductions in disease incidence, enhanced growth, increased yields, and elevated levels of defensive enzyme activity compared to the control group.