EFFICACY OF SOLARIZATION COMBINED WITH METAM SODIUM AND HYDROGEN PEROXIDE IN CONTROL OF FUSARIUM OXYSPORUM F. SP. RADICIS-LYCOPERSICI AND CLAVIBACTER MICHIGANENSIS SUBSP. MICHIGANENSIS IN TOMATO GREENHOUSE

Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici (Forl) and Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (Cmm) can cause serious economic losses as soilborne pathogens of tomato. There is no practical and effective way to control both pathogens in greenhouse. In this study, effects of solarization alone and combined with metam sodium and hydrogen peroxide+benzoic acid, individually against Forl and Cmm were evaluated in greenhouse conditions in July and August, 2009 in Ortaca, Turkey. Both pathogens were artificially incorporated into soil of each plot before solarization. Metam sodium was applied once with solarization while hydrogen peroxide+benzoic acid was practiced twice via drip irrigation system with two different doses during a three-week solarization period. In the result of the study, solarization alone did not suppress both pathogens. Moreover, metam sodium with 1250 L/ha dose and hydrogen peroxide+benzoic acid with total of 200 L/ha dose were found ineffective to control them, as well. On the other hand, hydrogen peroxide+benzoic acid with total of 300 L/ha dose had the highest efficacy for both Forl and Cmm along with solarization. In conclusion, hydrogen peroxide+benzoic acid as an environmentally friendly chemical could be a new approach to combat the soilborne diseases in solarization since metam sodium is planned to be banned in agriculture in the near future.