Evaluating crude extracts of Monsonia burkeana and Moringa oleifera against Fusarium wilt of tomato

Fusarium wilt is one of the major soil-borne diseases of tomato crop globally. The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of medicinal plants in the control of Fusarium wilt in tomato. Methanolic extracts of Monsonia burkena and Moringa oleifera were assessed in vitro and under greenhouse conditions. The in vitro experiments evaluated the effect of both extracts on Fusarium oxysporum f. sp lycopersici growth and response to varying concentrations. In greenhouse experiment, tomato seedlings cv. HTX14 were inoculated with conidial suspension of F. oxysporum and transplanted into pasteurised growth media amended with plant extract. Seedlings were treated with aqueous extracts at varying concentrations with an interval of 7 days between applications. Control treatments were treated with sterile distilled water. Both plant extracts significantly reduced pathogen growth in vitro and reduced wilt severity under greenhouse conditions. The highest mycelial growth suppression was observed in Mon. burkeana treatments. Under greenhouse conditions, both plant extracts significantly (P?≤?0.05) reduced Fusarium wilt severity and had a positive effect on plant growth parameters. A significant increase in soil-pH was also recorded in extract treated soil resulting in reduction in disease severity. The results further provide new scientific information on how their effect on soil pH can be beneficial in the control of Fusarium wilt.