Fungal Genomics & Biology
Open Access

Abstract

Investigation of Potential Biological Control of Fusarium Oxysporum f.sp.Lycopersici by Plant Extracts, Antagonistic sp. and Chemical Elicitors In Vitro

MR Mahmud, Laila Nasrin and Sajib Podder

Tomato (LycopersiconesculentumL.) is the most popular vegetable in the world. These fruits carry heavy sporeloads when they leave the field. As a result of poor packaging and improper management, the fruits arrive at theirdestination bruised and squeezed and different types of rots set in under favourable conditions. Fusarium rot is oneof the most devastating diseases of ripe tomatoes. The pathogen was isolated from the infected material and it wasidentified as Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici. Diseases caused by fungal pathogens have been a majorchallenge to agriculture, health as well as national economy. The resistance of this pathogen to the wide variety ofchemicals has stimulated the search of new alternatives for control measures. Use of plants extract is one of themost promising, effective, safer and eco-friendly method to eradicate the pathogen from ripe tomato. The presentpaper aims at the study on the potential for the control of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici by nine plant extracts(Calotropisprocera, Curcuma domestica, Moringaoleifera, Tricosanthesdioica, Nigella sativa, Wedeliacalendulacea, Andrographispaniculata, Trigonellafoenum-graceumandMomordicacharantia), three fungicides(Sulcox, Indofil M 45 and Ridomil MZ 68) and three antagonistic fungi. It was found that almost all plant extracts at25% concentration were effective in reducing the mycelium growth of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici.Thehighest inhibition (87%) of mycelium growth of this pathogen was observed when treated after the plant extract ofCalotropis proceraon 12 DAI at 25% concentration and lowest inhibition (27%) of this pathogen was observed whentreated after the plant extract of Momordicacharantia on 12 DAI at 5% concentration. Antagonistic effect ofTrichoderma sp., Sclerotium sp. and Aspergillus sp. shows that the highest percent inhibition radial growth (82%)was of Trichoderma sp. and the lowest (68.95%) was of Aspergillus sp. against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.lycopersici. Chemical treatment with Sulcox was proved that the most effective fungicides against this pathoge