Abstract
The ability of mature spent mushroom compost (MSMC) fortified or not with CaLignosulphonate (LS) and Trichoderma atroviride TA 312B2 to suppress the disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis was evaluated on melon plants under controlled conditions. The effect of LS on some chemical and microbial parameters of compost was also investigated. The addition of Ca-Lignosulphonate increased ß-glucosidase activity and NH4 + -N content. Melon plants grown in pot mixtures containing spent mushroom compost (30%) showed a significant reduction of disease severity compared to that of plants developed in the absence of the compost product. The suppressiveness of MSMC, MSMC + LS and MSMC + TA 312B2 was similar. The addition of CaLignosulphonate along with antagonistic fungus to spent mushroom compost significantly enhanced its suppressive ability.