Shrimp shells, Chitin and chitosan powders effect on growth of Lycopersicon esculentum and their ability to induce resistance against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. radicis-lycopersici attack

The potential of co-products of shrimp shells on the germination parameters, growth, and for inducing defense reactions in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) plants inoculated with Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. radicis-lycopersici (FORL) was investigated in vitro and in vivo.It was found that chitosan at 50mg/l increased the germination percentage by 2.66%; the shrimp shells powder at 50mg/l was best in increasing the length of radical and length and weight of hypocotyl in vitro. In Vivo, chitosan at 50mg/l increased length, fresh/dry weight of aerial and radicle parts compared to control. An inhibition of FORL growth in vitro was obtained by addition of chitosan at 100mg/l. In addition, chitin at 25 mg/l decreased the foliar alteration index by 73.34% compared to control.