Evaluation of Allyl Isothiocyanate and Ethylicin as Potential Substrate and Space Fumigants in Tomato Greenhouses

Continuous use of substrate cultivation can easily lead to the accumulation of crop pathogens, leading to widespread crop diseases. It is necessary to screen suitable and efficient substrate and space fumigants to keep the healthy development in substrate and greenhouses. This study systematically evaluated the effects of allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) and ethylicin fumigation on pathogens present on the substrate inside greenhouses. The average populations of Fusarium spp. and Phytophthora spp., bacterial and fungal community structures, tomato growth and yield were investigated and analyzed. The results demonstrated that both AITC and ethylicin exhibited significant inhibitory effects on Fusarium spp. and Phytophthora spp. in the substrate, with control efficiencies of 94.2% and 87.5%. Furthermore, these agents achieved 100% inhibition against Fusarium spp. while exceeding 90% Phytophthora spp. in the greenhouse space. Fumigation treatments significantly reduced pathogenic bacteria and increased beneficial microorganisms like Bacillus, Streptomyces and Brevibacillus in the substrate. Additionally, tomato yields increased significantly by over 45%. This study presents the first report on AITC and ethylicin as potential efficient fumigants easily used for both substrate and greenhouse space fumigation, which demonstrates excellent control effect on crop pathogens, with potential application in commercial tomato production in greenhouses to support sustainable agricultural practices.