Antifungal activity of Solanum elaeagnifolium extracts against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici

This study explored in vitro the inhibitory effect of Solanum elaeagnifolium leaves, stems, and fruits extracts against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici (FORL). Aqueous and organic extracts (used at 1, 2, 3, and 4%) were added to molten Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) medium. After pathogen inoculation, cultures were incubated at 28°C/7 days. All extracts tested showed a strong antifungal activity against FORL using poisoned food technique. The variation depends on the concentrations tested and the organic solvent used for extraction. For aqueous extracts, the leaves extract used at 4% exhibited the highest antifungal potential, where FORL growth was decreased by 87.50%, relative to the untreated control, compared to 75 and 50% achieved using fruits and stems extracts at 4%, respectively. The highest antifungal activity of organic extracts was registered at the highest concentration used (4%). FORL was found to be more sensitive to leaf extracts than to those from fruits and stems. Among the four organic extracts tested, ethanolic, methanolic, and chloroform fractions were the most active against FORL growth than ether, with an inhibitory effect of about 87.50%. These results indicate that native Solanum elaeagnifolium plants may be exploited as a potential source of biologically active allelochemicals against FORL.