Allelopathic suppression of Pseudomonas solanacearum infection of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) in a tomato-Chinese chive (Allium tuberosum) intercropping system

Tomato plants were grown alone or intercropped with Chinese chive plants, with or without the inoculation of Pseudomonas solanacearum. Chinese chive plants had no detrimental effects on the growth of tomato plants but significantly delayed and suppressed the occurrence of bacterial wilt of tomato. P. solanacearum population decreased faster in the soil grown with tomato alone than that in the soil grown with both tomato and Chinese chive. However, P. solanacearum population in bare soil was higher than that grown with Chinese chive. Root exudates of Chinese chive collected with a continuously trapping system were inhibitory to multiplication of P. solanacearum.