Relative Wilt-Inducing Capacity of the Culture Filtrates of Isolates of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. radicis-lycopersici, the Tomato Crown and Root Rot Pathogen

Cell-free 30-day-old culture filtrates of 24 isolates of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. radicis-lycopersici (FORL) differed considerably in their capacity to induce wilting in 28-day-old tomato seedings and to inhibiting the germination of tomato seeds. The wilt effects ranged from mild on leaves and lateral stems, to total collapse of the seedlings in 24 h. Wilt, leaf curl and leaf chlorosis, appearing in this sequence, were the three symptoms clicited by the culture filtrates. Boiled and non-boiled filtrates elicited similar sympotoms. The high wilt capacity filtrates were pH 7.2; the others were generally below pH 6. The high wilt capacity filtrates showed polyphenoloxidase activity but the overall pattern of this activity did not correlate consistently with wilt capacity. The majority of the lower wilt capacity filtrates showed a net inhibition of dihydroxy-phenylalanine (DOPA) oxidation. The study suggests that the symptoms in the tomato seedlings were elicited by toxins in the culture filtrates. Further, it appears that the differences obtained in the wilt capacity of filtrates from the isolates were due, at least in part, to inherent differences in the concentration of the toxic factors. The rapidity of the onset of wilt, the total, collaps of filtrate-treated seedlings and the absence of fungi in wilted seedlings suggest further that the operative mechanisms are physiological and biochemical and not impairment of the seedlings’ translocation system by physical blockage with mycelia.     

A Rapid Tomato Seedling Assay for Verticillium Wilt

A rapid (10-min) tomato seedling assay was developed for determining the wilt-capacity of cell-free culture filtrates of race 1 and race 2 isolates of Verticiilium dahliae. The assay also rapidly determined the differences in wilt resistance between tomato cultivars. Rapidity was attained by manipulating incubation conditions to promote rapid wilting. These included inducing elongated stems in the susceptible cv. Bonny Best seedlings by growth of plants in subdued light (2.2 × 10² lux) and by concentrating two-fold the cell-free culture filtrates of the pathogen. Further, rapid uptake of the wilt factors in the culture filtrates was facilitated during incubation by increasing transpiration with bright light (23.8 × 10³ lux), a wind stream (125–150 metres/min) across the assay seedlings, low relative humidity (28%) and a relatively high assay temperature (30 C). When necessary, these conditions were altered to extend the assay times. This assay system was used to determine optimal incubation time, temperature and medium for obtaining culture filtrates with increased wilt capacities. The assay also determined the relative wilt capacities of races 1 and 2 and the comparative resistance of four tomato cultivars to wilt caused by races 1 and 2.     

Tomato growth and resistance promotion by Enterobacter hormaechei subsp. steigerwaltii EB8D

Fusarium wilt is an economically important disease of tomato crop (Solanum lycopersicum L). Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) represent an alternative to improve plant growth and yield as well as to act as agent of biocontrol. In this study, antagonistic effects of four selected isolates (EB8D, EB20J, EB24L and EB26M) were evaluated against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. radicis lycopersici (FORL) as potential biocontrol agents in vitro and in vivo. After 30?days of culture, dry weight, length of stem and root were significantly (p?≤?.05) higher compared with the non-inoculated control. Compared with the control plate (inoculated only with pathogen), EB8D had showed efficient antagonism against FORL (48.88%). The different strains have been screened for siderophore production, solubilisation of mineral phosphates, synthesis of indolic acetic acid (IAA) to show the plant growth-promoting potential. The experimental groups were compared with a control group that did not receive any treatment by FORL, and EB8D was the best isolate in terms of growth promotion with an improvement of 73.85% of the stem length, 110.86% of the root length and 118.85% of the dry weight comparing with the non-treated controls. Compared with a control group treated by FORL, biocontrol activity has shown that EB8D strain improved the stem length with 111.85%, the root length with 118.85% and the dry weight with 452.38%. 16S rRNA analysis has confirmed that this strain belongs to the genus Enterobacter and has high similarity with Enterobacter hormaechei subsp. steigerwaltii (99.71%). EB8D has a significant strong protective potential against FORL and lead to better tomato growth and might have biotechnological potential for controlling fusarium wilt in tomato plants.     

Evaluation of Soil Streptomyces spp. for the Biological Control of Fusarium Wilt Disease and Growth Promotion in Tomato and Banana

Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Fol) and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc), are the causal agent of Fusarium wilt disease of tomato and banana, respectively, and cause significant yield losses worldwide. A cost-effective measure, such as biological control agents, was used as an alternative method to control these pathogens. Therefore, in this study, six isolates of the Streptomyces-like colony were isolated from soils and their antagonistic activity against phytopathogenic fungi and plant growth-promoting (PGP) activity were assessed. The results showed that these isolates could inhibit the mycelial growth of Fol and Foc. Among them, isolate STRM304 showed the highest percentage of mycelial growth reduction and broad-spectrum antagonistic activity against all tested fungi. In the pot experiment study, the culture filtrate of isolates STRM103 and STRM104 significantly decreased disease severity and symptoms in Fol inoculated plants. Similarly, the culture filtrate of the STRM304 isolate significantly reduced the severity of the disease and symptoms of the disease in Foc inoculated plants. The PGP activity test presents PGP activities, such as indole acetic acid production, phosphate solubilization, starch hydrolysis, lignin hydrolysis, and cellulase activity. Interestingly, the application of the culture filtrate from all isolates increased the percentage of tomato seed germination and stimulated the growth of tomato plants and banana seedlings, increasing the elongation of the shoot and the root and shoot and root weight compared to the control treatment. Therefore, the isolate STRM103 and STRM104, and STRM304 could be used as biocontrol and PGP agents for tomato and banana, respectively, in sustainable agriculture.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium sambucinum</Emphasis> isolate FS-94 induces resistance against fusarium wilt of tomato via activation and priming of a salicylic acid-dependent signaling system

The wheat rhizosphere-inhabiting nonpathogenic Fusarium sambucinum isolate FS-94 protected tomato from Fusarium wilt (F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici) in laboratory experiments. Seed soaking or immersion of seedling roots in a FS-94 spore suspension prior to inoculation with the pathogen delayed the appearance of wilt symptoms and significantly reduced disease severity in plants of a susceptible tomato cultivar. Quantification of fungal ergosterol in infected tomato showed that protection against wilt agent was related to limitation of the pathogen growth in plants exposed to FS-94. Incubation of tomato seedlings in a FS-94 spore suspension for 48 or 72 h led to plant protection and increased the salicylic acid (SA) concentration in their roots, suggesting that this isolate was involved in a plant-mediated mode of action and induced resistance. Soaking tomato seeds in the spore suspension did not induce SA accumulation in seedling roots, but nevertheless resulted in a significant reduction in wilt severity when the seedlings were challenged with the pathogen. In response to pathogen attack, the SA content in susceptible seedlings grown from FS-94-treated seeds started to increase within 1 day and remained elevated for 72 h. This suggests that F. sambucinum isolate FS-94 primed a SA-dependent signaling system in tomato.     

Protein-Lipopolysaccharide Complexes Produced by Virulent and Non-Virulent Isolates of Verticillium albo-atrum and V. dahliae are Non-Specific Toxins to Tomato and Potato

Toxic protein-lipopolysaccharide complexes (PLPC) were isolated from culture filtrates of Verticillium albo-atrum (isolate WCS 800) and V. dahliae (WCS 070) isolates, both virulent to tomato and potato cultivars, and from an isolate of,V. albo-atrum (V22W) which was non-virulent to these hosts. The virulent isolates each produced one major PLPC in culture and the non-virulent isolate produced two (fractions 1 and 2, characterized by their elution pattern after gel filtration). Virulence in these three isolates was not related to quantity of PLPC produced in culture. However, PLPC from the virulent isolates were toxic to tomato in a leaf bioassay at 4μg ml^-1 (WCS 800) and 20μg ml^-1 (WCS 070) but the two PL, PC from the non-virulent isolate required concentrations of 100 and 1000 μg ml^-1 for toxicity. Production of a modified, less toxic PLPC in V22W may partly account for its non-virulence. Gel filtration of PLPC from the three isolates on a calibrated Sephacryl S-400 column, eluted in phosphate buffer plus NaCl, indicated a compound of heterogeneous molecular mass with an average of 126,000 daltons for the PLPC of WCS 800, WCS 070 and, fraction 1 of V22W, and 25,000 daltons for fraction 2 of V22W. Attempts to extract a low molecular weight toxin from the PLPC by extended dialysis were unsuccessful. The susceptibility of 12 tomato and 19 potato cultivars to the Verticillium isolates was compared with their sensitivity to PLPC. Susceptibility was not correlated with toxin sensitivity and the PLPC were concluded to be non-specific toxins in these hosts.     

Rejection of Fusarium pallidoroseum as a Biological Control Agent of Mimosa invisa in Upland Rice

Fusarium pallidoroseum , isolated from diseased Mimosa invisa in the Philippines, provided excellent control of M. invisa seedlings when applied as a foliar spray of the crude culture filtrate in laboratory and field trials. The effect was immediate contact action, causing rapid desiccation of treated tissues because of the production of toxin(s). The cell-free filtrate of F. pallidoroseum was more virulent than the crude filtrate. Seedlings at the cotyledon stage and older 3- to 4-leaf seedlings escaped the phytotoxin action of F. pallidoroseum and regrowth occurred. Inoculum was readily produced on milled rice and remained virulent for at least six months under room condition storage. Culture filtrates of F. pallidoroseum caused disease symptoms on a broad range of plant species. Most plants, however, expressed only light infection, while Mimosa invisa , M. pudica and Cucumis melo (cantaloupe) were severely damaged by the isolate. Symptoms were observed on some upland rice cultivars, but affected rice plants outgrew the effects. Mycotoxins are produced by isolates of F. pallidoroseum , but the health risk associated with the use of F. pallidoroseum as a weed control tool is not known. Until the health risk is known and documented, the possible use of F. pallidoroseum as a control strategy for M. invisa should be deferred.     

Relationship Between Ralstonia solanacearum Diversity and Severity of Bacterial Wilt Disease in Tomato Fields in China

A field survey was conducted to determine the relationship between Ralstonia solanacearum diversity and severity of bacterial wilt disease in tomato plants grown in plastic greenhouses. Both vegetative and reproductive stages of the plants were surveyed, and the symptoms were empirically categorized into five scales: 0 (asymptomatic): 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th. The bacterial wilt pathogen was isolated from infected plants at each disease scale; pathogenic characteristics and population densities of the bacterial strains were assessed. Two hundred and eighty‐two isolates were identified as R. solanacearum, which were divided into three pathogenic types, virulent, avirulent and interim, using the attenuation index (AI) method and a plant inoculation bioassay. Ralstonia solanacearum was detected in all asymptomatic and symptomatic tomato plants, with population numbers, ranging from 10.5 to 86.7 × 105 cfu/g. However, asymptomatic plants harboured only avirulent or interim R. solanacearum, whereas tomato plants displaying 1st or 2nd disease degree contained interim and virulent strains. Additionally, 3rd and 4th degree plants harboured only virulent strains. The disease was more severe in vegetative‐stage plants (disease severity index (DSI) 0.20) with higher total numbers of interim and virulent R. solanacearum strains than those in reproductive‐stage plants (DSI 0.12). Three pathotypes of R. solanacearum coexisted in a competitive growth system in the tomato field, and their distribution closely correlated with the severity of tomato bacterial wilt.     

Influence of Fusarium wilt toxin(s) on carnation cells

The influence of culture filtrates of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. dianthi which causes Fusarium wilt was investigated on growth and viability of carnation tissue cultures and leaf segments. Culture filtrates of avirulent race 1 of this fungus did not affect calli and leaf segments of cultivars both susceptible and resistant to Fusarium wilt. However, culture filtrates of virulent race 2 decreased viability and suppressed growth of callus of the susceptible cultivar. In contrast, callus of the resistant cultivar showed resistance to the culture filtrates. The results of these experiments may provide information on methods of selection of new wilt resistant carnation varieties.Abbreviations A270 absorbance at 270 nm - 2,4-d 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - CF-MCD culture filtrate of 16064 grown in MCD medium - MCD medium modified Czapeck-Dox medium - MS medium basal medium of Murashige and Skoog - MW molecular weight - PD medium potato dextrose medium - TTC 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride     

Viability staining of soybean suspension-cultured cells and a seedling stem cutting assay to evaluate phytotoxicity of Fusarium solani f. sp. glycines culture filtrates

The phytotoxicity of culture filtrates of Fusarium solani f. sp. glycines, the fungus causing sudden death syndrome (SDS) of soybean (Glycine max), was tested with a viability stain of soybean suspension-cultured cells and a stem cutting assay of soybean seedlings. Suspension-cultured cells from a SDS-susceptible soybean cultivar were exposed to cell-free culture filtrates of F. solani f. sp. glycines or other F. solani isolates for 2, 4, 6, and 8 days and then stained with 0.1% phenosafranin. The percentage of dead soybean suspension-cultured cells was greater (P<0.001) with filtrates prepared from F. solani f. sp. glycines than from other F. solani isolates, and dead cells increased over time and with higher concentrations of culture filtrate. Cuttings of soybean seedlings with their stems immersed in culture filtrates of F. solani f. sp. glycines isolates developed SDS-like foliar symptoms, but not when immersed in filtrates of other isolates. There was a positive correlation (r=0.94, P<0.001) between soybean foliar symptom severity and percentage of stained soybean suspension-cultured cells. Both methods were used to determine the phytotoxicity of fungal culture filtrates. Received: 9 December 1997 / Revision received: 10 August 1998 / Accepted: 28 August 1998     

Host-specific Fusarium oxysporum Causes Wilt of Jojoba

Jojoba [Simmondsia chinensis (Link) Schneider] plantations in Israel originated from vegetative propagation, planted during 1991–92, have shown symptoms of wilting and subsequent death. Verticillium dahliae was only rarely isolated from these plants and artificial inoculation showed only mild disease symptoms. Fusarium oxysporum caused severe chlorosis, desiccation, defoliation and wilt in leaves of jojoba plants, resulting in plant death. Recovery of the fungus from artificially inoculated stem cuttings and seedlings showed for the first time that F. oxysporum was the primary pathogen. Inoculated cuttings exhibited wilt within 3 weeks, while in seedlings wilt occurred 10–24 weeks after inoculation. Seedlings and cuttings of jojoba which were inoculated with other Fusarium isolates originating from different crops (F. oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum from cotton, F. oxysporum f. sp. dianthi from carnation, F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici from tomato and F. oxysporum f. sp. basilicum from basil) did not develop symptoms. Moreover, cotton, tomato, melon and cucumber seedlings inoculated with several virulent F. oxysporum isolates from jojoba did not show any symptoms of wilt or defoliation. These results indicate a high degree of specificity of the Fusarium isolates from jojoba; therefore, it is suggested that this isolate be defined as F. oxysporum f. sp. simmondsia.     

Reproduction of Symptoms of a Root Disease of Wheat by Toxic Metabolites Produced by Two Pythium Species and their Partial Characterization

Abstract Three Pythium isolates [ Pythium arrhenomanes isolates (320) & (323)], and Pythium irregulare produced in vitro metabolites that affect normal wheat seedling growth and development. P. arrhenomanes isolates (320 & 323) produced toxic metabolites that caused a general browning of root tissue of 2–3-day-old wheat seedlings, root stunting, inhibition of root hair formation, and reduced fresh and dry root weights. These symptoms were also seen in infected seedlings inthe field. Culture filtrates of P. irregulare only partly reproduced disease symptoms, as they inhibited root elongation, but did not cause any browning of root tissue or inhibition of root hair formation. P. irregulare filtrates also stunted shoot growth and stimulated root hair formation and elongation in a swollen area immediately behind the root tip. Autoclaving did not affect activity of P. irregulare culture filtrates, but did inactivate P. arrhenomanes culture filtrates, suggesting that they are different. Ultrafiltration separations of P. arrhenomanes (isolate 320) filtrates indicated that toxic metabolites were heterogeneous. One component was less than 1,000 mol.wt. and the other greater than 50,000 mol.wt., but less than 100,000 mol.wt.     

Temperature and seedling age affect susceptibility of perennial ryegrass seedlings to pathogenic fungi

Summary Effects of temperature and seedling age on survival of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) seedlings grown on sand-wheat wholemeal cultures of different isolates ofFusarium spp. (9 isolates),Pythium spp. (9 isolates), andChaetomium spp. (1 isolate) are reported. Some isolates were virulent over the whole range of temperatures tested (7.5–27.5°C). The virulence of others depended on temperature. Most isolates were less virulent at intermediate temperatures (12.5–22.5°C) than at higher or lower temperatures. At 25°C ryegrass seedlings were susceptible to fungal attack for only a limited period after germination commenced. This period differed for different fungi, but for most isolates tested, seedlings were resistant after 2–3 days.     

Possible phytotoxic metabolites in culture filtrates of Diaporthe phaseolorum var. sojae

Filter-sterile culture filtrates of an isolate of Diaporthe phaseolorum var. sojae (Phomopsis sojae), causal agent of pod and stem blight and seed decay of soybeans (Glycine max), grown on Czapeks-dox broth significantly (P = 0.05) inhibited germination of cabbage (Brassica oleracea), cantaloupe (Cucumis melo), onion (Allium cepa), soybean, and wheat (Triticum vulgare) seeds and wilted soybean seedling cuttings within 24 hr. Inhibition of seed germination and severity of soybean seedling wilt increased with increased concentrations of culture filtrates and increased incubation time of the cultures.     

Endophytic Bacteria Induce Growth Promotion and Wilt Disease Suppression in Oilseed Rape and Tomato

To determine whether bacteria isolated from within plant tissue can have plant growth-promotion potential and provide biological control against soilborne diseases, seeds and young plants of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L. cv. Casino) and tomato (Lycopersicon lycopersicum L. cv. Dansk export) were inoculated with individual bacterial isolates or mixtures of bacteria that originated from symptomless oilseed rape, wild and cultivated. They were isolated after surface sterilization of living roots and stems. The effects of these isolates on plant growth and soilborne diseases for oilseed rape and tomato were evaluated in greenhouse experiments. We found isolates that not only significantly improved seed germination, seedling length, and plant growth of oilseed rape and tomato but also, when used for seed treatment, significantly reduced disease symptoms caused by their vascular wilt pathogens Verticillium dahliae Kleb and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Sacc.), respectively.     

RAPD based genetic diversity among different isolates of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium oxysporum</Emphasis> f. sp<Emphasis Type="Italic">. lycopersici</Emphasis> and their comparative biocontrol

Fusarium wilt of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.) caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Sacc.) W. C. Snyder and H. N. Hans (Fol.), is most serious and versatile pathogen. Chemical control of disease is not satisfactory and biological control is an attractive and potential alternative to the use of chemicals to control fusarium wilt of tomato. No any bioagent is universally effective everywhere therefore, search for potential biocontrol agent is continuous process and mandatory for several and individual ecological niches. In this experiment biocontrol efficacy of five species of Aspergillus and five species of Trichoderma were evaluated in vitro against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici. In both the experiments (dual culture and culture filtrates) T. harzianum was found to be highly effective against the isolates of Fol. followed by A. niger biocontrol potential of A. terreus is least among all the isolates tested. Culture filtrates obtained from A. luchuensis exerted least inhibition of Fol. The most sensitive isolate of Fol. against all the antagonists tested was identified as IIVR-2 (Fol. 9). Inherent diversity among Fol. isolates, from different tomato growing regions in India, was determined using RAPD primers. The genetic similarity coefficients ranged from 0.20 to 0.96, indicating that no any two or more isolates were 100% similar. RAPD profiles revealed up to 20% genetic diversity among ten isolates of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici.     

Advantage of using PSIRB over PSRB and IRB to improve plant health of tomato

Twenty-one isolates of phosphate solubilizing-indole acetic acid producing rhizobacteria (PSIRB), 20 isolates of phosphate solubilizing rhizobacteria (PSRB) and 42 isolates of indole acetic acid producing rhizobacteria (IRB) were isolated from 49 rhizospheric soil samples of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) collected from tomato growing regions of Karnataka. A method combining Pikovskaya’s and Bric’s technique was developed to isolate PSRIB, PSRB and IRB’s. The selected isolates were further analyzed for their ability to solubilize calcium phytate. Based on the root colonization assays and the abilities of bacterial isolates to increase the seed germination and seedling vigor under laboratory conditions, five isolates were selected from each group for further studies. Under greenhouse conditions, all the selected rhizobacteria isolates significantly increased root length, shoot length, fresh weight, dry weight and total phosphorus content of 30-day-old-seedlings with respect to control. Isolate PSIRB1 and IRB36 significantly reduced the Fusarium wilt incidence over other isolates of same and other group, and the control. On the basis of results from laboratory and greenhouse studies, one bacterial isolate from each group was selected for plant growth and yield analysis studies. Isolate PSIRB2 showed increased plant height, fresh weight, number of fruits per plant and average weight of fruit over PSRB9, IRB36 and untreated controls. Studies on the nature of protection offered by these bacterial isolates following split-root technique revealed that the isolates PSIRB2 and PSRB9 had the ability to induce systemic resistance. One isolate, IRB36 appeared to protect the tomato seedlings through direct antagonism.     

Use of culture filtrates of Ceratocystis ulmi as a bioassay to screen for disease tolerant Ulmus americana

Cullus cultures of elm (Ulmus americana L.) derived from Dutch elm disease susceptible, intermediate-resistant, and resistant genotypes were exposed to the culture filtrates of three patogenic isolates of Ceratocystis ulmi, the causal agent of Dutch elm disease. Callus fresh weights, cell viability, and reactions of stem cuttings were determined after exposure to various concentrations of the filtrates. Calli from the susceptible elm failed to increase in fresh weight and lost viability after exposure to media containing culture filtrate. Calli from the resistant and the intermediate-resistant elms exhibited growth rates and maintained viability similar to controls not exposed to culture filtrate. Stem cuttings of the susceptible elm wilted after exposure to the culture filtrate. The symptoms were similar to wilt seen with the disease. Cuttings from the resistant elm had no disease symptoms whereas, the intermediate elm had some leaf chlorosis. Callus screening may thus be useful for selection of Ulmus germplasm for Dutch elm disease resistance.     

Pathogenicity of Fusarium oxysporum Isolates from Malaysia and F. oxysporuin f. sp. elaeidis from Africa to Seedlings of Oil Palms (Elaeis guineensis)

Pathogenicity tests with Fusarium oxysporum isolated form Malaysian oil palm were made with oil palms seedlings raised form Malaysian seed as well s with wilt-susceptible seedlings gown from African seed. Oil palm seedlings grown form Malaysian seed were also inoculated with African isolates of F. oxysporum f. sp. elaeidis and F. oxysporum var. redolens. The experiments were made under normal soil moisture conditions and under water stress. F. oxysporum f. sp. elaeidis isolates form Africa were pathogenic to oil palm seedlings from Malaysian seeds but the Malaysian F oxysporum isolates were non-pathogenic to plams grown from Malaysian seed or the wilt-susceptible palms from African seed. Seedlings from Malaysian seed proved to be highly susceptible to the vascular wilt disease caused by F. oxysporum f. sp. elaeidis as 75–90% of the palms were infected. The susceptibility of the palms from Malaysian seed varied with different African isolates tested. The Yaligimba isolate from Zaire which was found to be F. oxysporum var. redolens was the most virulent. Disease was more severe when oil palm seedlings were subjected to a period of water stress. The incidence of death in the seedlings under stress conditions was 45% as compared with only 15% for palms grown under normal conditions.     

Studies on some fungi isolated from the rhizosphere of tomato plants and the consequent prospect for the control of Verticillium wilt

Summary Biological control of Verticillium wilt disease with antagonistic micro-organisms was studied. Antagonism of some fungi, isolated from tomato rhizosphere, toVerticillium albo-atrum R & B. was observedin vitro. A clearly defined zone, in which the growth of the pathogen was inhibited, was observed withPenicillium spp. (includingPenicillium chrysogenum Thom) andFusarium culmorum (S.G. Sm) Sacc., whileTrichoderma viride pers. ex Fries,Gliocladium spp. andPenicillium vermiculatum Dangeard, suppressed the growth ofV. albo-atrum by penetrating, and overgrowing it. OnlyT. viride andP. vermiculatum culture filtrate added to the Dox's agar, reduced the radial growth ofV. alboatrum. Root-dip application of culture filtrates ofT. viride andP. chrysogenum was found to be most effective in controlling the disease, followed by other species ofPenicillium andGliocladium spp. WhileFusarium culmorum provided no control. Improvement of plant height and vigour with a better yield due to culture filtrate treatment occurred. Root-dip application of antagonistic fungal propagules (T. viride, P. chrysogenum) to tomato seedlings was also very effective in controlling wilt in tomato plants grown inV. albo-atrum infested soil. Dedicated to the memory of the late Prof. Ivor Isaac with whom I had the pleasure of working