Effect of soil moisture on seed germination, plant growth and root rot severity of navy bean in Fusarium solani infested soil
Tu, J.C.; Tan, C.S.
Communications in Agricultural and Applied Biological Sciences 68(4): 609-612
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 1379-1176 PMID: 15151296 Document Number: 562954
The development of root rot and its severity were affected by numerous factors which through their interaction could distort results. In this study, a single factor, soil moisture was considered. Using Fusarium solani infested root rot soil we investigated the effect of three available soil moisture (ASM) levels (i.e. 100%, 70% and 25%) on seed rot, germination, plant growth and root rot severity of navy bean in the greenhouse. Percent germination differed strikingly averaging of 58.5, 89.5 and 87.0% respectively to ASM levels. Apparently, high soil moisture promoted seed rot and impeded seed germination. Root rot incidence and severity were examined two months later. Percent plant with root rot averaged 89.5, 89.0 and 69.8% while root rot severity was 3.01, 2.3 and 1.1 (on a 0-9 scale), respectively to ASM levels. Plant growth was moderate, good and poor with respect to ASM levels. It was apparent that the final plant growth was a sum of seed rot, root rot incidence, disease severity and soil moisture adequacy. However, seed rot appeared to be the largest contributing factor to final plant yield.