Overview

During the four years of continuous monitoring of soil-borne pathogens infesting rice-vegetable systems in San Jose, Nueva Ecija, five were found seriously affecting rice and vegetable crops, namely, seedling damping-off of onions (Fusarium sp.), bulb rots of onions (Fusarium sp. and Rhizoctoniasolani), pink root of onions (Phoma terrestris), bacterial wilt of eggplant, tomato and pepper (Pseudomonas solanacearum) and sheath blight of rice (Rhizoctonia solani). In Bongabon, Nueva Ecija soil-borne diseases affecting onions were pink root and bulb rot. The incidence of bacterial wilt in San Jose City was high in eggplant growing areas.

In vitro evaluation of the five species of Trichoderma as potential biocontroltrol agents showed antagonistic effects to all of the seven soil-borne pathogens. Bacillus sp. 1 showed inhibitory effects against Fusarium sp. 1, 3, P. terrestris and Sclerotium rolfsii, while Bacillus sp. 2 and Bacilluspumilus were both effective against Fusarium 1 and 3.