Boosting Tomato Plant Immunity to Wilt Disease Using Red Seaweed Extract

Jim Crocker
6th August, 2024

Boosting Tomato Plant Immunity to Wilt Disease Using Red Seaweed Extract

Image Source: Natural Science News, 2024

Key Findings

  • Researchers at Al-Azhar University found that Jania ethyl acetate extract (JE) can effectively control Tomato Fusarium oxysporum wilt (FOW)
  • JE showed strong antifungal activity against the fungus causing FOW, achieving a 20 mm zone of inhibition
  • Both soil irrigation and foliar spraying of JE significantly reduced the disease index in tomato plants, with foliar spraying being more effective
The increasing threat of plant diseases poses significant challenges to agriculture, particularly with the demand for more food production. Traditional methods, such as chemical pesticides, have adverse effects on ecosystems and face public opposition. Therefore, there is a pressing need for environmentally friendly and sustainable alternatives. Recent research conducted by Al-Azhar University has explored an innovative approach to control wilt diseases using Jania ethyl acetate extract (JE)[1]. The study focused on the potential impacts of JE on Tomato Fusarium oxysporum wilt (FOW), a severe plant disease caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum (FO). The researchers investigated the antifungal potential of JE in vitro and identified several compounds with fungicidal properties, including Phenol, 2-methoxy-4-(2-propenyl)-, acetate, Eugenol, Caryophyllene oxide, Isoespintanol, Cadinene, Caryophylla-4(12),8(13)-dien-5à-ol, and Copaen. The JE demonstrated strong antifungal activity against FO, achieving a 20 mm zone of inhibition. In the experiment, two different application methods were tested: soil irrigation (SI) and foliar spraying (FS) of JE. Both treatments significantly reduced the disease index present, with a 20.83% reduction for SI and a 33.33% reduction for FS. These findings suggest that JE can effectively mitigate the effects of FOW on tomato plants. The study also examined the physiological and biochemical responses of infected plants to JE treatment. During FOW infection, there was an increase in proline, phenolics, and antioxidant enzyme activity, while growth and photosynthetic pigments decreased. However, the application of JE through soil or foliar methods improved these parameters, enhancing the morphological features, photosynthetic pigments, total phenol content, and antioxidant enzyme activity of the infected plants. Notably, JE application had a less negative impact on the isozymes peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase in tomato plants compared to FOW, with variations depending on the application method. These findings align with previous research on the use of natural compounds to control plant diseases. For instance, a study on cyanobacteria demonstrated their effectiveness in inducing immunity against Fusarium wilt in Capsicum annuum L.[2]. The application of cyanobacterial aqueous extracts significantly reduced the risk of infection with Fusarium oxysporum, with foliar spraying being one of the most effective methods. This treatment improved growth, metabolic characteristics, and phenolic content, similar to the effects observed with JE[2]. Furthermore, the current study's identification of Isoespintanol as one of the active compounds in JE is noteworthy. Previous research has highlighted the antibacterial and antibiofilm potential of Isoespintanol against nosocomial bacteria, suggesting its broader antimicrobial properties[3]. This underscores the potential of JE as a multi-functional biopesticide. The use of algae and their extracts as biopesticides has been gaining attention due to their diverse ecological niches and production of various bioactive compounds. A review of algal metabolites has shown their effectiveness as antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, nematocides, insecticides, herbicides, and plant growth stimulants[4]. The current study on JE further expands on this body of knowledge, demonstrating the potential of Jania sp. as a commercially viable and ecologically acceptable method to protect tomato plants against FOW. In conclusion, the research conducted by Al-Azhar University presents a promising alternative to chemical pesticides for controlling wilt diseases in tomatoes. The application of Jania ethyl acetate extract shows significant antifungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum and improves the physiological and biochemical parameters of infected plants. This study, along with previous findings on natural compounds and algal metabolites, highlights the potential of environmentally friendly biopesticides in sustainable agriculture.

AgriculturePlant ScienceMarine Biology

References

Main Study

1) Enhancing tomato plant immune responses to Fusarium wilt disease by red seaweed Jania sp.

Published 5th August, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-67233-0

Related Studies

2) Cyanobacteria-Mediated Immune Responses in Pepper Plants against Fusarium Wilt.

https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11152049

3) Antibacterial Screening of Isoespintanol, an Aromatic Monoterpene Isolated from Oxandra xylopioides Diels.

https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27228004

4) Algae and Their Metabolites as Potential Bio-Pesticides.

https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10020307


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