Biological Control of Orobanche Ramosa by Fusarium Solani

Objective: Importance of management of gardens weeds is an issue that unfortunately has less been investigated by weeds researchers of country. One of the most important restrictive agents of cultivated surface and producing crops of Citrus orchards are weeds. Methods: In this investigation, isolates of Fusarium solani were recovered from diseased broomrape collected from tomato, eggplant, melon, and watermelon fields in Southern Khorasan. The pathogenicity of isolates was evaluated on Orobanche ramosa stem and seed. Fusarium damaged all of the developmental stages and prevented the damage that broomrape causes to plants. Results: The germination of inoculated seed was significantly reduced, germ tubes of microconidia penetrated all parts of the thick, complex seed testa, and seed contents were destroyed. Pathogenicity tests indicated that F. solani caused lesions of black soft rot and complete deterioration within 57 days (100%). They also attacked Orobanche seeds, arresting their germination and causing maceration of nongerminated and germinated seeds after 57 days of incubation. This is the first investigation of the effects of F. solani on host plant interactions with broomrape in melon.