Tal Hanuny and Moshe Inbar - Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, Haifa 31905, Israel

The effects of the soilborne pathogen Fusarium oxysporum and the bulb mite Rhizoglyphus robini on onion sprout survival were experimentally tested in pots and an in-vitro bioassay (Petri dishes). Survival after 8 weeks in potted plants although significant, was subtle. However in the invitro bioassay, within 4 days we detected severe additive effects of the pathogen and mite on onion sprout rootlet growth. The importance of host-plant, fungi and mite interactions with respect to control are discussed.