Use of compost to partially substitute non-renewable growing media and suppress soil-borne pathogens on potted vegetable plants

摘要: Composts are expected to suppress plant diseases, according to the type of waste, the composting process, and the chemical and microbiological composition. Suppressive composts are generally applied as soil improvers; while it is necessary to develop specific compost-based growing media for applications on potted plants. The aim of this research was to evaluate the suppressiveness of compost+ peat growing medium compared to peat. A growing medium made of 20% v/v compost, peat and pumice was tested. Suppressiveness was tested in greenhouse on potted plants against Pythium ultimum on cucumber, Phytophthora nicotianae, and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici on tomato. Pathogens were mixed into the substrate at 1 g of biomass on wheat kernels L-1 seven days before seeding or with chlamydospores in talc at 1× 104 cfu g-1 of substrate. Seeds of cucumber and tomato were sown into 2-L …