Beneficial Rhizosphere Bacteria for Sustainable Management of Fusarium Wilt in Tomato

Global food security necessitates sustainable agricultural practices to address the challenges of soil degradation and overpopulation. Tomato cultivation faces a significant threat from Fusarium wilt disease. Conventional management practices have limitations, highlighting the need for environmentally friendly and effective strategies. This study evaluated the potential of a seed crusting/coating technique using beneficial bacteria, combined with a chemoattractant, to suppress Fusarium wilt in tomatoes. Fructose was identified as the most effective chemoattractant. Tomato seeds were crusted/coated with a bacterial consortium and chemoattractant, using gum arabic as a binding agent and talc as a filler. The coating’s effect on seed germination and seedling growth was assessed in pot trials. Results showed that coated seeds germinated faster and exhibited improved germination and vigor indices. When exposed to Fusarium wilt pressure, seeds coated with the bacterial consortium and chemoattractant exhibited a significant suppression of disease incidence, reaching up to 62.92% compared to the control. The coating also enhanced plant growth, as evidenced by increased plant height, total chlorophyll, and carotenoid content. Additionally, higher levels of phenolic compounds and increased activities of peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase-key enzymes in the phenylpropanoid pathway were recorded in coated plants under pathogen pressure. These findings suggest that crusting/coating tomato seeds with beneficial rhizobacteria and a chemoattractant is an effective approach for suppressing Fusarium wilt and improving plant growth. Keywords: Fusarium oxysporum, biocontrol agents, antifungal activity, plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB), systemic resistance, metabolic profiling, phenolic compound.