Domates bakteriyel solgunluk hastaliği etmeni [Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (Smith) Davis et. al.]?nin tanilanmasi ve bitki büyüme düzenleyici rizobakteriler ile biyolojik mücadele olanaklarinin araştirilmasi

In this study, 57 bacterial strains were isolated from tomato plants growing in surveyed field located in Adana and Mersin provinces and also infested plants which were sent from Antalya, Artvin, Bursa and İzmir provinces. All bacterial strains were identified as Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (Cmm), causal agent of tomato bacterial wilt disease by using morphological physiological, biochemical, serological (indirect ELISA), molecular (PCR) fatty acid methyl ester analyses methods.In addition to identification studies, possible use of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) was also investigated as an alternative method to chemical control of disease caused by Cmm. Totally 499 putative bacterial strains were isolated from 39 different rhizosphere-associated soils from different tomato grown fields in Adana, Antalya, Hatay, Osmaniye, Mersin ands Mugla provinces. Among these strains, 30 putative bacterial strains were initially selected as PGPR which solubilized phosphorus and fixed nitrogen. The most efficient eight putative PGPR strains were further assessed to suppress disease caused by Cmm in vivo conditions. Following these experiments, 3 PGPR strains and combinations for seed treatments, two PGPR and combinations for field experiments were used to suppress disease occurrence. For comparison ISR 2000, as a commercial plant activator, was also included in these studies.Field experiments revealed that disease severity was significantly suppressed at 43% by PGPR strains used. In the absence of the pathogen, PGPR strains have also promoted plant growth (i.e., plant length, stem diameter, branch number, plant fresh and dry weight, root length and yield) at varying ratios