Author(s)

Tom Tabi Oben^1*, Doris Besem Arrey^1,2, George Teboh Mbah¹, David Tavi Agbor^1,3, Eneke Esoeyang Tambe Bechem², Egbe Enow Andrew^1,2

¹Department of Agronomic and Applied Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
²Department of Plant Science, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
³Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey.

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill) is a staple fruit vegetable widely grown worldwide for its rich nutrients including vitamins, minerals and proteins. In spite of its importance, yield and fruit quality in Buea, Cameroon is quite low compared to other countries. Pests and diseases are responsible for these limitations. Those of high importance are pinworm (Tatu absoluta) and Fusarium wilt respectively. Synthetic chemicals have been used to manage this pest/disease on tomato but this has not been very successful because of high cost and unavailability of these chemicals. Botanicals are known to have anti-microbial properties. 10% Leeks and marigold extracts were applied to tomato plants one week after planting. Five treatments were replicated four times in a randomized complete block. They include a control, a synthetic insecticide, leeks extract, marigold extract, and leeks/marigold extracts. Growth and yield parameters were evaluated and data obtained was analysed by descriptive statistics and ANOVA. Results showed that more tomato plant leaves were recorded in the leeks + marigold treatment (54) which differed significantly (P = 0.05) from the control (45). More fruits were harvested in the leeks + marigold treatment (32) which differed significantly (P = 0.05) from the control (18). Pinworm numbers were significantly higher in control (6) (P = 0.05) than the other treatments. Numerous leaf damage was observed in control (20) which differed significantly (P = 0.05) across treatments. More fruit damage was seen in control (14) and differed significantly (P = 0.05) from the other treatments. The least disease incidence was noted in Leeks + Marigold treatment (27.5%), and the most in control (72.5%) which differed significantly (P = 0.05) across treatments. Fusarium oxysporium and Fusarium semitectum were identified. There was a significant difference in pathogen number in control compared to other treatments. Thus leeks and marigold extract increased yield of tomato by mitigating the effects of leaf miner and fusarium wilt.

Leeks, Marigold, Disease Incidence, Fungal Pathogens

Oben, T. , Arrey, D. , Mbah, G. , Agbor, D. , Bechem, E. and Andrew, E. (2023) Botanicals, as a Sustainable Agroecological Alternative to Synthetic Pesticide for Controlling Leaf Miner (Pinworm) and Fusarium Wilt Disease of Tomato. Agricultural Sciences, 14, 1022-1037. doi: 10.4236/as.2023.148068.