Efficacy of seaweed concentrate from Ecklonia maxima (Osbeck) and conventional fungicides in the control of Verticillium wilt of pepper

In order to control the causal agent of Verticillium wilt of pepper (Verticillium dahliae), the efficacy of two conventional fungicides, thiophanate-methyl and carbendazim, and seaweed concentrate (SWC) from Ecklonia maxima was evaluated in greenhouse conditions. Pepper plants were inoculated with selected V. dahliae isolate in the stage of more than nine fully developed leaves on primary stem. The tested fungicides and SWC were applied three days before inoculation of pepper plants. Carbendazim was the most efficient fungicide among tested substances (69.64%). SWC proved to be more effective when applied at 1.0% concentarion (41.96%). The use of thiophanate-methyl provided good Verticillium wilt control in pepper (60.71%). SWC was less efficient than thiophanate-methyl and carbendazim, but still significantly better compared to the disease control plot.

Effect of Plant Growth Regulators on Propagule Formation in Hemerocallis spp. and Hosta spp.

Field experiments were conducted in 2002 and 2003 to evaluate the effects of selected plant growth regulators on propagule production in Hemerocallis `Happy Returns' and Hosta `Gold Standard'. Benzyladenine (BA), chlormequat chloride (Cycocel), ethephon (Ethrel), prohexadione calcium (Apogee), and an experimental preparation of commercial seaweed extract (Acadian Seaplants Limited Liquid Seaweed Concentrate) amended with BA and IBA were tested at two times of application and three rates of application. Results with Hemerocallis showed that the application of the seaweed/PGR mixture at 3000 mg·L–1, Cycocel at 3000 mg·L–1 or BA at 2500 mg·L–1 applied at flowering, increased the number of plants producing two divisions compared to control plants. In Hosta, no increase in divisions under any treatments was observed.