Effect of carbon-based nanomaterials on Fusarium wilt in tomato

Fungal diseases often cause significant losses in tomato cultivation. Fusarium oxysporum is responsible for substantial losses in the yields of tomato crops growing in open fields and in greenhouses. Carbon-based nano materials (CNMs) have been widely used in numerous applications in agriculture and are proposed as a potential alternative for disease control. In the present study, two carbon-based nanomaterials were evaluated on the incidence and severity of F. oxysporum and on components of the antioxidant defense system in tomato plants. The results showed that the application of CNMs reduced the severity of F. oxysporum, and increased the yield of tomato fruits, the content of photosynthetic pigments, ascorbic acid and flavonoids, and the activity of the antioxidant enzymes in the leaves of plants inoculated with this pathogen. These results suggest the application of CNMs may be a viable option for the control of diseases such as F. oxysporum in tomato crops.

Automated summary

The study found that the application of carbon-based nanomaterials can reduce the severity of Fusarium oxysporum, increase the yield of tomato fruits, improve the content of photosynthetic pigments, ascorbic acid and flavonoids in leaves, and enhance the activity of antioxidant enzymes. These results suggest that the application of carbon-based nanomaterials may be a viable option for controlling diseases such as Fusarium oxysporum in tomato crops.