The effects of Glomus intraradices and Trichoderma harzianum on Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. Melongenae on chitinase and β-1,4-glucanase synthesis in eggplant

In this thesis, the effects of biological control agents Trichoderma harzianum (Th) and Glomus intraradices (Gi) applications on plant growth, wilt disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melongenae (Fomg) and the activities of pathogenesis related proteins including chitinase and β-1,4-glucanase that plays important role in diseases resistance in "Aydın siyahı" and "Anamur" eggplant varieties were investigated. According to the results of the study, in the "Aydın siyahı" and "Anamur" eggplant varieties where Gi and Th were applied individually and in combination; it was observed that shoot and root length, stem diameter, shoot fresh and dry weight, root fresh and dry weight increased in cases where pathogen inoculation was performed or not compared to the control. Biological control agents were quite successful in reducing disease severity in "Anamur" and "Aydın siyahı" eggplant varieties where Gi and Th were applied individually and in combination. Accordingly, biological control agents played an important role in the resistance mechanism by increasing chitinase and β-1,4-glucanase enzymes. As a result; biological control agents caused an increase in plant growth parameters, suppressed the disease, and increased the chitinase and β-1,4-glucanase enzymes to provide the plant's resistance to the pathogen.