Efficacy of seaweed concentrate from Ecklonia maxima (Osbeck) and conventional fungicides in the control of Verticillium wilt of pepper

In order to control the causal agent of Verticillium wilt of pepper (Verticillium dahliae), the efficacy of two conventional fungicides, thiophanate-methyl and carbendazim, and seaweed concentrate (SWC) from Ecklonia maxima was evaluated in greenhouse conditions. Pepper plants were inoculated with selected V. dahliae isolate in the stage of more than nine fully developed leaves on primary stem. The tested fungicides and SWC were applied three days before inoculation of pepper plants. Carbendazim was the most efficient fungicide among tested substances (69.64%). SWC proved to be more effective when applied at 1.0% concentarion (41.96%). The use of thiophanate-methyl provided good Verticillium wilt control in pepper (60.71%). SWC was less efficient than thiophanate-methyl and carbendazim, but still significantly better compared to the disease control plot.