INOCULATION OF Trichoderma harzianum DURING MATURATION OF VINEYARD WASTE COMPOST TO CONTROL MUSKMELON Fusarium WILT

The utilization of compost vineyard wastes as suppressive growing media against Fusarium wilt is a good alternative for the disposal and recycling of these organic wastes. Inoculation of biological control agents (BCAs) enhances the biocontrol activity of compost. In this experiment, vineyard compost was sampled at different stages during the composting process, rating the values of acceptability for growing media. Under greenhouse nursery conditions, composts inoculated with Trichoderma harzianum T78, (Th T-78) gave higher plant fresh weights, as well as lower pathogen incidence and disease severity than treatments with Th T-78 inoculated at muskmelon sowing and non-inoculated composts. Comparing the two composts inoculated with Th T-78 at different stages of the composting process, the one inoculated at the beginning of maturation phase showed lower pathogen incidence and disease severity than the one inoculated at the beginning of the composting process.