The effects of glomus spp. on tomato seedling performance and pythium deliense in different growth media

In this thesis, the effects of biopreparates including Glomus intraradices and mixed mycorrhizal species supplemented growing medium from seed sawing on seedling performance and seedling rot caused by Pythium deliense with artificial inoculation were determined. Sterile soil, sand and perlite (YO1); white peat, perlite and vermiculite (YO2); white peat, black peat and perlite (YO3) and white peat, cocopeat, perlite (YO4) containing media were tested. Among the plant growth parameters, the best growing medium for increasing plant height, root length, stem diameter, fresh and dry weights of shoot and root were YO4 with white peat, coconut shell and perlite, and later YO2 with white peat, perlite and vermiculite. When mycorrhizal fungi were administered as single or mixed, the highest colonization rates were observed in YO4 and YO2. Disease severity after Pythium deliense inoculation was lower in these growing media due to the increase of plant growth parameters in plants with strong colonization. The level of total phenolic compounds in plants was higher at 24, 48 and 72 hours in plants grown in these media and mycorrhizal fungi pathogen combinations compared to their controls. It was concluded that mycorrhizal fungus inoculation in these media decreased the severity of disease by increasing seedling quality and total phenolic compounds.