Fighting Tomato Fungal Diseases with a Biocontrol Product Based on Amoeba Lysate

Abstract

New solutions to reduce the use of chemical pesticides to combat plant diseases and to meet societal and political demands are needed to achieve sustainable agriculture. Tomato production, both in greenhouses and in open fields, is affected by numerous pathogens. The aim of this study is to assess the possibility of controlling both late blight and powdery mildew in tomatoes with a single biocontrol product currently under registration. The biocontrol product AXP12, based on the lysate of Willaertia magna C2c Maky, has already proved its efficacy against downy mildew of grapevine and potato late blight. Its ability to elicit tomato defenses and its efficacy in the greenhouse and in the field were tested. This study establishes that AXP12 stimulates the tomato genes involved in plant defense pathways and has the capacity to combat in greenhouse and field both late blight (Phytophtora infestans) and powdery mildew (Oidium neolycopersici and Leveillula taurica) of tomato.

Keywords

• <i>Phytophtora infestans</i>
• <i>Oidium neolycopersici</i>
• <i>Leveillula taurica</i>
• biofungicide
• <i>Willaertia magna</i> C2c Maky