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POSTERS: Integrated pest management

Integrating resistance inducers, biopesticides and vermicompost for alternative management of tomato Fusarium wilt in Colombia
Mauricio Soto-Suárez - Corporación colombiana de investigación agropecuaria - AGROSAVIA. Paola Clavijo- AGROSAVIA, Lorena Carmona- AGROSAVIA, Nadia Luque- AGROSAVIA, Angela Sandoval- Universidad Nacional de Colombia, sede Bogotá, Diana Burbano- AGROSAVIA, Magda Gómez- AGROSAVIA

In Colombia, tomato production is the second most important food crop after onion, representing 18% of production in the horticultural sector. Phytopathogenic fungi and bacteria affecting tomato and other crops are mainly controlled using pesticides. The average use of chemical pesticides for the year 2015 in Colombia was 14.7 kg/ha (global average; 3.9 kg/ha). The vascular wilt disease caused by the soil borne fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Fol) is one of the major constraints for tomato production throughout the country. Colombian farmers use agrochemicals to control Fusarium wilt and, in most cases, without knowledge. Alternative approaches such as resistance inducers and biopesticides have proved to be effective against a broad range of pathogens and could be promising to control tomato crop diseases. In this study, we have evaluated the effectiveness to control Fol of silicon, phosphites, chitosan, Trichoderma spp. and organic amendments using both in vitro and in planta approaches. Individual application of silicon, phosphites and chitosan were effective to control Fol in vitro inhibiting mycelial growth until 100, 99 and 96 %, respectively; and reduced disease severity in 25, 44 and 70%, respectively. Additionally, Trichoderma spp. and vermicompost were able to inhibit the growth of Fol in 56% and 95%, respectively. Particularly for vermicompost, experiments have been carried out on the filed including farmers participatory research methodologies. This study contributes to develop integrated management alternatives of the wilt disease in Colombia.