The effects of mycorrhizal fungus and vermicompost applications on Rhizoctonia solani kuhn. and plant development of potato

In this thesis, the determination of the effects of single and combined applications of mycorrhizal fungus Glomus intraradices, vermicompost and vermicompost tea on plant growth and Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn were aimed. Mycorrhizal fungus was applied together with tuber planting, vermicompost and vermicompost tea were applied to the soil after planting, and the fungicide with fludioxonil active ingredient as a comparison was applied to the tuber. At the end of the trial period, root colonization of mycorrhizal fungus, plant growth parameters (number of emerging plants, shoot and root length, stem diameter, shoot and root wet-dry weights) and the effects of R. solani on disease severity were evaluated. In addition, the total amount of phenolic substances in the applications was determined by taking samples from plant roots. Mycorrhizal fungus G. intraradices was able to colonize in the presence or absence of the pathogens in single or combination applications. Due to the root colonization, it increased the plant growth parameters significantly compared to the control. The highest effect were obtained from mycorrhizal fungi alone and in combination with vermicompost on plant development. G. intraradices, vermicompost applications alone and in combination significantly suppressed the disease development. Applications provided as effective as seed spraying; it reduced both the disease development on the plant and the sclerot contamination on the tuber. The results were found to be important in terms of increasing plant growth and decreasing disease occurrence on potatoes and showed that these applications can be used in potato cultivation. While the total phenolic content in plant roots was found to be the lowest in the pathogen application at the end of the trial period, it was found to be higher than the control in all applications.