ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF DIFFERENT SYSTEMIC FUNGICIDES AGAINST FUSARIUM OXYSPORUM F. SP. LYCOPERSICI ASSOCIATED WITH TOMATO WILT AND EMERGENCE OF RESISTANCE IN THE PATHOGEN

Abstract

Fusarium wilt in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici. Pathogen is notorious because of its adverse effect on plant growth with causing significant yields losses. Further complication is developing by raising issue of resistance in F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici particularly in developing countries due to injudicious fungicides applications in the field of tomato plant infected by this pathogen. F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici was isolated from collected infected samples from tomato field in Multan, southern Punjab on Potato dextrose medium by adopting poisoned food technique. Antifungal activity of different systemic fungicides viz. Pyrimethanil, Fludioxonil, Benlate, Bromuconazole, Fosetyl-Al, Flumorph, Prochloraz, Myclobutanil, Epoxiconazole, Strobilurin, carbendazim, Fentin hydroxide, Streptomycin, Tebuconazole, Iprobenfos and azoxystrobin were tested against F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici in vitro by using poisoned food technique. All tested fungicides suppressed fungal mycelial growth with significantly high or low percent inhibition ranging from 1.48 to 85.92%. Among 16 tested fungicides, different concentrations of Bloom, Prochloraz and Bromuconazole significantly inhibited fungal growth ranging from 75 to 85.92 %. Carbendazim and epic reside in the bottom with reference to their efficacy in suppression of F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici. The results of present research expressed that isolates of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici develops resistance with time which causes reduced efficacy of fungicides as compared to previously published data. The results provided information about fungicides application and selection for the management of holistic disease in tomato crop in Pakistan.