Maritza Institute for Vegetable Crops, 32 Brezovsko shosse str., Plovdive-4003, BULGARIA
Observation was made in 20 greenhouses farm growing vegetables in the West and Central parts of Bulgaria during the last two years. The following tomato varieties were examined: Precodor, Merlgrob, Karmelo, Alladin, Orlando, Fontana, Ramada, Rosela, Billi, Ideal and Balka. Isolations of the pathogens from tomato plants were made by standard methods. Among 90 isolates five Fusarium species were identified according criteria of Booth (1971, 1977).
The most widespread fungus is the species F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, followed by F. solani. By means of method of Sanchez (1975), F. oxysporum F. sp. radicis-lycopersici was distinguished. This species as well as F. moniliforme var. subglutinans and F. tabacinum are not widespread. They were only isolated from several places. Two of them were isolated from plants with symptoms of basal steam rot and corky root rot and discoloration of vascular vessels near to the soil level. F. tabcinum was isolated from plants with symptoms of corky root rot. F. moniliforme var. subglutinans and F. ox. f. sp. radicis-lycopersici are recorded for the first time in Bulgaria as pathogens of greenhouse tomatoes.
Literature cited:
Booth, C. 1971. The Genus Fusarium, CMI England.
Booth, C. 1977. Fusarium Laboratory Guide to the Identification of the Species.
Sanchez, L.E., R.M. Endo, and J.V. Leary 1975. Phytopathology. 65:726-727.