ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Potential of Composted Agricultural Wastes
to Control Stem Rot and to Promote Growth
in Tomato
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1
National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia, 1082 Tunis, University of Carthage, Tunisia
2
LR21AGR03- Production and Protection for Sustainable Horticulture (2PHD), Regional Research Centre
on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture, University of Sousse, 4042, Chott-Meriem, Tunisia
3
Olive Tree Institute, Unit of Sousse, 4061 Sousse, Tunisia
Submission date: 2021-04-17
Final revision date: 2021-09-13
Acceptance date: 2021-09-22
Online publication date: 2022-02-28
Publication date: 2022-04-06
Corresponding author
Fakher Ayed
National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia, Tunisia
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2022;31(3):2007-2018
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ABSTRACT
Stem rot caused by Sclerotium rolfsii is one of the most devastating disease in tomato.
An integrated management strategy implementing potential biotool is required to control this disease.
Thus, five on-farm composts were evaluated for their ability to control tomato stem rot and to promote
plant growth. The tested composts, except C1, were effective in decreasing disease severity from 31.2
to 56.2%, with a significant similarity between pathogen-inoculated plants treated with C3 and C4
and disease-free and untreated controls. Treatments with C2 and C4 had significantly enhanced most
tomato growth parameters: stem diameter, and dry weights of aerial part and roots. A similar effect
was noted for C3-based treatment on the plant height, the stem diameter, and the root dry weight
where the recorded increments as compared to control were estimated at 16.9%, 23.8%, and 80%,
respectively. Tested on S. rolfsii-free plants, compost C4 was the most efficient in improving all tomato
growth parameters by 28.8, 8.54, 92.2 and 80% in their height, stem diameter and aerial part and
root dry weights, respectively. A similar significant effect was observed on tomato plants challenged
with composts C2 and C3. This work demonstrated the ability of composts to control tomato stem rot
and to enhance the plant growth.