The effect of different plant nutrition programs on tomato stem rot (Pectobacterium carotovorum) disease

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), is the most widely grown vegetable crop throught the world. Tomato stem rot caused by Pectobacterium carotovorum is destructive in greenhouses in the Eastern Mediterranean Region of Turkey. In this study, the effect of different plant nutrition programs (1: Macro Plant nutrients, 2: Macro Plant nutrients +Minor Plant nutrients, 3: Macro Plant nutrients + Phosphorus, 4: Macro Plant nutrients + Potassium) was investigated as pot experiments in a glasshouse. Tomato stem rot infected plant samples were collected from tomato production areas of Erdemli, a district of Mersin province, and putative bacterial strains were isolated and identified as Pectobacterium carotovorum. Disease incidence was determined from 48% to 67% in nutrition programs, whereas, this rate was 78 % in plants with only pathogen. Phosphorus was the most effective treatment that suppressed the disease by 38%. This study suggested to include phosphorus nutrition, a cultural practice, in the integrated tomato stem rot management program. Keyword: Tomato, Pectobacterium, phosphorus, potassium, calcium