Evaluation of Fungicides against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici the Cause of Fusarium Wilt of Tomato

Abstract

Tomato is very significant and full of nutrition vegetable crop. It is enriched with vitamin a and C, lycopene, and protects from prostate cancer, cardiovascular diseases. Tomato wilt disease (TWD) caused by F. oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici (Fol) is a serious threat to tomato crop in Pakistan and spreading to those areas in which it was not previously present. The current research was planned to evaluate the fungi-toxic activity of fungicides against F. oxysporum in vitro and under greenhouse conditions. Four fungicides which include Carbendazim, Benomyl, Curzate and Nativo, at 500ppm, 750ppm and 1000ppm concentrations, were evaluated using food poison technique. The overall results showed that all fungicides significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited mycelial growth of F. oxysporum, however, Nativo proved to be best followed by Carbendazim, Benomyl at all concentrations. The reduction in colony growth of pathogen gradually increased by increasing the fungicide concentration. Two fungicides, Nativo and Carbendazim and their concentrations 750 and 1000 ppm, which proved to be effective in laboratory conditions, also evaluated under greenhouse conditions. Both fungicides effectively controlled TWD under greenhouse conditions. The present research revealed that Nativo and Carbendazim at 750 and 1000 ppm concentrations are effective against Fol, thus may be included in management strategy of TWD.