Isolation and Efficacy of Compost Fungi for Biological Control of Fusarium Wilt of Tomato (fusarium Oxysporum F.sp.lycopersici

Student: Binta Hassan Aliyu (Project, 2025)
Department of Crop Protection
Bayero University, Kano, Kano State

Abstract

Abstract: This study investigated the potential of compost-derived fungi as biocontrol agents against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (FOL), the causative agent of Fusarium wilt in tomatoes. Fungal isolates (Aspergillus sp. and Curvularia sp.) were obtained from compost samples and evaluated for their antagonistic effects using dual culture assays under laboratory conditions. Results demonstrated that Aspergillus sp. exhibited the highest inhibitory activity, achieving 70.5% growth inhibition at 3 days after inoculation (DAI), which remained significant (61.1%) by 15 DAI. Curvularia sp. showed moderate suppression (28.5% at 3 DAI), while the synthetic fungicide mancozeb provided stable but lesser inhibition (56.8% at 3 DAI). The findings suggest that Aspergillus sp. outperforms both Curvularia sp. and chemical controls, likely through competitive exclusion, antibiosis, or mycoparasitism. This study highlights the promise of compost fungi, particularly Aspergillus sp., as sustainable alternatives to synthetic fungicides for integrated pest management in tomato cultivation. Further field trials and mechanistic studies are recommended to validate and optimize their application.

Keywords
fusarium isolation efficacy compost fungi biological control tomato oxysporum lycopersici
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