Interaction impact of drought stress, nutrient deficient water and seed-borne pathogen (Alternaria alternata) of germination and vigor of two tomato varieties

Abstract

This study evaluated not only the seedling performance of two tomato varieties (Marmande and Kecskeméti Jubelium) under irrigation with nutrient-deficient water and drought stress but also salicylic acid application on alleviating seed-borne disease of tomato caused by Alternaria alternata. Results indicated that The outcome indicated that the Kecskeméti Jubileum demonstrated a higher degree of growth in certain environmental parameters, although both Kecskeméti Jubileum and Marmande cultivars can germinate in the condition of nutrient-deficient water. Nevertheless, when applying levels of drought, the Marmande variety had a higher viability rate of 62.5% in comparison with another variety, and the germination rate of the two tomato varieties is at 85.5% in 5% but decreased progressively when exposed to a higher drought concentration of 10%. When using 3 ml of salicylic acid during germination stages, the seedling vigor index of Marmande shows a greater index at 165 in comparison to Kecskeméti Jubelium just 108 under the infection of Alternaria alternata.