MICROBIAL DIVERSITY ASSESSMENT OF HEALTHY AND WILT-INFESTED TOMATO PLANTS AND DETECTION OF NOVEL BENEFICIAL MICROBES*

INTRODUCTION
Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) is one of the many high value crops popularly propagated by farmers due to high net returns. However, many pests also planter to another. To date, experimental biological control had shown promising results for the control of wilt- infected plants. This study aims to monitor

affect this crop. The most detrimental are those causing wilt symptoms such as vascular wilt caused by Fusarium

culturable microbial population associated with healthy and wilt infested tomato plants from Nagcarlan, Laguna. Basically three

lycopersici and the bacterial wilt disease caused by Ralstonia solanacearum. Control of fusarium wilts depend mostly on use of resistant varieties and clean planting

sites will be covered, namely: 1) microbes found in the soil (or non-rhizosphere soil), 2) rhizosphere soil (soil attached to the roots of the plant), and 3) inside macerated roots (inside the roots). Differential media will be used to isolated specific bacteria,

materials. The fungus is so widespread and so persistent in soils that seedbed

sterilization and crop rotation are done but soil sterilization is too expensive for field application. Control of bacterial wilt of

actinomycetes and fungi.

Furthermore,

isolated microbes will be screened for potential function or novel use. This

solanaceous plants and banana also depends on resistant varieties, when available, and proper crop rotation or fallow. Bacteria-

research was conducted at the Mycorrhiza Laboratory, BIOTECH, UPLB under the supervision of Dr. Jocelyn T. Zarate from May 9 to October 20, 2007.

free propagative materials should be used, and tools such as knives should be disinfected when moving from one banana

* Study conducted by Joeric Emil P. Crescini as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements in Science 3B at the University of the Philippines Rural High School (UPRHS), Paciano Rizal, Bay, Laguna. Conducted from April to October, 2007