The effects of vermicompost application to root rot disease caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)

In this study, the effect of vermicompost application on root rot disease and tomato growth parameters were investigated. S. sclerotiorum causes significant yield loss in tomato cultivation. In the first phase of the study, the effect of vermicompost on the development of S. sclerotiorum was investigated. S. sclerotiorum was found to be developed in all the petris. S. sclerotiorum was impeded by vermicompost but it did not interfere with colony growth, but sclerotomy growth was prevented. In the second stage of the study, the effect of vermicompost on the development of tomato plants and S. sclerotiorum rootstroke disease was investigated. Two different tomato varieties (142 235 F1 and Alsancak RN F1) were used in the experiment. As a result of the study, it was found that there were statistically significant differences between the treatment groups in terms of seedling growth parameters of both tomato varieties and also in general vermicompost did not have a positive effect on seedling development. It has been determined that vermicompost has no inhibitory effect on the severity of disease in tomato seedlings and it causes higher disease severity than control application. Key words: Tomato, Vermicompost, S. sclerotiorum