Antagonistic Activity of Pseudomonas Fluorescens Against Fusarium Oxysporum f. sp. Nievum Isolated from Soil Samples in Palestine

Watermelon is an important summer crop in Palestine, for several decades filling the needs of local market and some Arab countries. The yield of watermelon decreased dramatically in recent years due to severe infections with the soil borne fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum (FON). Soil fumigation with methyl bromide was commonly applied by Palestinian farmers until it was recently legally banned. Different control mechanisms were not feasible to overcome problems caused by the disease resulting in decreased watermelon cultivation in Palestine for the past 30 years. In this work, we have experimentally shown that Pseudomonas fluorescens was efficient in controlling FON infection and allowing normal seedling growth of both the root and shoot systems. Field experiments are necessary to further confirm the efficacy of biocontrol application.