Pathological Studies on Wilt and Root Rot of Cumin and Their Management in Egypt

Abstract

Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) plant is one of the most popular spices and from important medicinal and aromatic plants in Egypt. Pathogens can lead to significant reductions in cumin yield. Cumin is attacked by several fungi. Macrophomina phaseolina, Fusarium spp., Pythium sp. and Rhizoctonia solani were isolated from cumin plants infected with root rot and wilt. Symptoms of wilt caused by F. oxysporum appeared 90 days after planting. Pythium sp. filtrate treatment was generally the most effective on the lowest mean percentage of cumin seed germination in vitro, followed by F. oxysporum and F. solain. Also, filtrates of F. oxysporum and Pythium sp. were the most effective in increasing wilted seedlings percentage. Thyme essential oil and Occidor 50% SC gave the highest reductions in damping- off (pre-, post- emergence) and wilt under greenhouse conditions. Whereas, Occidor 50%SC, Rhizo-N and Thyme oil gave the highest decrease percentages of wilt under field conditions. Thyme oil was generally the best treatment in increasing plant height and number of branches/plant than the other treatments, followed by Rhizo - N in increasing number of umbels/plant and seed yield (kg/fed.) than the control.