Application of electron beam irradiation for inhibition of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. dianthi activity

Electron beam irradiation was tested against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. dianthi (Fod) a pathogen causing Fusarium wilt of carnation. Efficiency of the different radiation doses on in vitro survival and development of Fod culture on potato-dextrose agar (PDA) medium was tested. A dose of 6 kGy completely inhibited the pathogen growth. Application of radiation for microbiological decontamination of four substrates used for carnation production demonstrated that, depending on the type of substrate, doses of 10 or 25 kGy were effective in Fod elimination. All carnation plants cultivated on radiation decontaminated substrates were healthy. (authors)