Severity Caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici in Tomato Varieties (Solanum lycopersicum L.) in Relation to Nutrition

Resumen

Objective: To evaluate nutrient solutions in Solanum lycopersicum as an alternative strategy for controlling Fusarium wilt. Design/methodology/approach: Steiner nutrient solutions at 100% strength and with calcium (Ca) modifications were evaluated in four saladette tomato varieties, Bony Best (BB), 8444, 8579, and Chantico (CHAN), in order to analyze the severity index caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (FOL). Tomato plants were inoculated with FOL race 3, and a completely randomized design with a factorial arrangement and four replicates was established. The disease severity index was assessed 30 days after inoculation using a 0–4 scale. Tukey’s mean comparison test was performed (α = 0.05). Results: Treatment 1 (Ca 207 mg L-1, variety BB) exhibited the lowest disease severity index. In the foliar analysis, the best treatment was also Treatment 1 (Ca 207 mg L-1, variety BB), which showed the highest Ca content. Findings/conclusions: The Bony Best variety showed the lowest disease severity index (5.37%) under a Ca concentration of 207 mg L-1. Therefore, the application of this Ca dose is advisable to reduce the severity of the disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (FOL).