Diseases caused by fungal and bacterial pathogens transmitted through the soil are
group of significant plant diseases that limit crop production worldwide. Verticillium
wilt is one of the most common diseases, causing substantial yield losses both in
Slovenia and globally. The pathogen enters the plant through the roots and reaches the
xylem, where blocking the vascular system, causes the plant wilting and consequently
reduced yield. To prevent the occurrence of the disease, crop rotation, the use of
resistant varieties or grafting onto resistant rootstocks, and the application of fungicides
are recommended. As organic farming gains increasing importance and the use of
synthetic fungicides is not permitted, biotic preparations based on fungi and bacteria
are becoming increasingly significant. Serenade ASO is a biotic preparation based on
the bacterium Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, which prevents the growth of pathogens by
competing with them for living space and nutrients. The main objective of the
experiment was to examine the effect of the biotic preparation Serenade ASO on the
occurrence of Verticillium wilt (Verticillium dahliae) infection in the selected pepper
variety 'Blondy F1' and its potential extension of registration, as it is not registered in
Slovenia for protection against Verticillium wilt. The results did not show significant
differences. Moreover, extreme weather conditions, including hail, heavy rainfall, and
strong winds, negatively affected the experiment. Better plant growth was observed in
areas where water did not accumulate, but these areas were not evenly distributed
among the blocks.
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