In vitro effect of two fungicides on pathogenic fungi causing root rot on tomato in Algeria

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) is one of the most widely grown vegetables in the world. There is a growing concern in recent years, both in developed and developing countries, about the use of hazardous fungicides for controlling plant diseases. The in vitro effect of two fungicides commonly used in Algeria namely Trifidan and Antracol (propineb) on the growth of three pathogenic fungi of tomato, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. radicis-lycopersici, Fusarium commune and Fusarium redolens was investigated to determine the effectiveness of the fungicides in reducing fungi growth. Each fungicide was assayed at 0, 100, 200, 400 and 500 mg L-1 rate in Potato Dextrose Broth (PDB) and incubated at 28°C for seven days. Data were collected on the mycelia weights of the fungi under each treatment. Mycelia weights of the three fungi were significantly reduced at 100 mg L-1 by the two fungicides under antracol treatment F. redolens and F. commune and a significant reduction was observed at 400 and 500 mgL-1. Application of Trifidan, significantly decrease in mycelia weight of F. oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici and F. commune irrespective of the rate applied. F. redolens was completely inhibited by Trifidan, and its inhibition started at 100 mg L-1.   Key words: Fusarium species, mycelium growth, inhibition, trifidan, antracol, tomato diseases, control, fungicides.