A Comprehensive Assessment of Fertilization Strategies for Managing Pectobacterium and Dickeya Infections and Their Impacts on Plant Health and Productivity in Tomato

Abstract

Soft rot diseases caused by Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum and Dickeya solani represent some of the most destructive bacterial diseases affecting vegetable production worldwide. Their extensive host range, remarkable capacity for tissue maceration, and ability to cause severe pre- and post-harvest losses make them major constraints to sustainable crop production. Furthermore, climate change-associated environmental conditions, particularly elevated temperatures and increased humidity, are expected to enhance pathogen aggressiveness and disease incidence, thereby posing growing threats to crop productivity, food security, and agricultural sustainability. In the present study, the effectiveness of six fertilizer treatments, including organomineral, mineral, micronutrient, organic, and biostimulant-based formulations, was investigated for their ability to suppress soft rot disease development and improve yield-related parameters in tomato plants artificially inoculated with the pathogens. Disease severity assessments revealed substantial reductions in all fertilizer-treated plants compared with the untreated control, with suppression rates reaching 80.92% and 84.27% for P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum and D. solani, respectively. Disease severity values under fertilizer applications ranged from 32.13% to 34.29%, whereas significantly higher disease levels were observed in untreated plants. Among the evaluated treatments, micronutrient fertilization exhibited the most promising overall performance by simultaneously reducing disease severity and enhancing yield-associated characteristics. Statistical analyses confirmed that all fertilizer applications significantly decreased disease severity compared with the control treatment (p ≤ 0.05). These findings demonstrate that sustainable fertilization strategies can serve as an effective component of integrated disease management programs by strengthening plant health and enhancing resistance against destructive bacterial pathogens. Beyond their role in disease suppression and yield improvement, such practices contribute to reducing dependence on synthetic chemical inputs, maintaining soil biological functionality, improving resource-use efficiency, and mitigating the environmental impacts of agricultural production. Consequently, the adoption of sustainable fertilization approaches offers a promising pathway toward climate-resilient, environmentally responsible, and economically viable tomato production systems capable of meeting future food security challenges.