This experiment was conducted in a greenhouse belonging to the Department of Plant Protection, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Baghdad - Jadiriyah during the 2023-2024 growing season. The aim was to study the effect of selenium and manganese oxide in inducing resistance in pepper plants (Capsicum annuum) against the pathogenic fungus Fusarium solani while enhancing certain growth parameters. The results revealed that applying these elements in combination at the optimal concentration of 200 mg/L inhibited fungal growth in vitro by 77.71% compared to the pathogenic fungus control, which showed 0% inhibition. This treatment also improved growth parameters such as plant height, fresh weight, and dry weight in pot experiments. Moreover, it reduced disease severity and infection rate in both pot and field experiments, in addition to enhancing the activity of enzymes such as peroxidase, Phenylalanine ammonia-layse (PAL), and catalase in pepper plants under field conditions.
EFFECT OF SELENIUM AND MANGANESE OXIDE AND THEIR COMBINATION IN INDUCING RESISTANCE IN PEPPER PLANTS INFECTED WITH PATHOGENIC FUNGUS FUSARIUM SPP
Se
Mno2
F. solani
Capsicum annuum