Effect of sulfosulfuron herbicide on controlling Orobanche aegyptiaca and application of biofertilizer in tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.)

In order to chemically control Orobanche spp. with consumption of biofertilizer in tomato, a factorial experiment on randomized complete block design in 3 replicates and 36 plots was carried out at a farm located in Mahabad city (West Azarbayjan Province, Iran). The experimental factors were: sulfosulfuron (WG 75%) 35 g/ha at three levels (application 40 days after seedling cultivation, application 40 and 60 days after seedling cultivation and control without application), phosphate biofertilizer (application and without application) and Nitrajin biofertilizer (application and without application). The results showed that the sulfosulfuron treatment 35 g/ha, twice 40 and 60 days after seedling cultivation decreased the biomass of Orobanche aegyptiaca in surface level and also decreased the biomass per tomato branch and Orobanche aegyptiaca biomass to amount of 75%, 57% and 60% compared to the main treatment without application, respectively. The applied phosphate biofertilizer had significant effect on the number of ripen fruits of tomato and yield of it at 5% level and decreased the amount of fruit and yield of tomato. Also the interaction of Nitrajin in sulfosulfuron in one chemical application significantly affected the average height of Orobanche aegyptiaca branches at the probability level of 5% and resulted in a decrease in height of the Orobanche aegyptiaca branches.