Pathogenic fungi in tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum) pose a significant threat to agricultural productivity and food safety. This study aimed to isolate and identify pathogenic fungi from tomatoes grown under different crop management systems, and to compare their occurrence across these systems. Ninety-six tomato samples were collected from each of the four plots depicting different management regimes in Mohales-Hoek, Lesotho. Plots were dedicated to a specific management system comprising a natural system (control), conventional system, integrated system and inter-cropping. The samples were transported to the microbiology laboratory at the National University of Lesotho. Pathogenic fungi were isolated using potato dextrose agar (PDA) and identified through macroscopic and microscopic observations. Four pathogenic fungal genera of Alternaria, Penicillium, Botrytis, and Fusarium, were identified and the percentage incidence of fungi genera was calculated. The study revealed variations in the incidences of these fungi across different crop management systems. The highest occurrence was found in Alternaria, which ranged from 22.29% in integrated systems to 48.96% in the natural system. Fusarium occurrence varied from 11.46% (integrated) to 18.75% (natural and intercropping). In the natural system, Penicillium was the most common (19.79%), whereas Botrytis was the least common in intercropping (2.13%).
Comparing integrated and intercropping systems with conventional and natural approaches, revealed considerable decreases in fungal contamination. In conclusion, the present study hypothesises that effective and sustainable crop management is capable of lowering post-harvest losses and fungal diseases. The study further suggests instituting integrated management systems may improve tomato output and reduce spoilage risks.
Table of Contents
- ABSTRACT
- DEDICATION
- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
- LIST OF TABLES
- LIST OF FIGURES
- 1.INTRODUCTION
- 1.1. BACKGROUND
- 1.2. PROBLEM STATEMENT
- 1.3. AIM
- 1.3.1 OBJECTIVES
- 1.4. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
- 2.LITERATURE REVIEW
- 2.1. IMPORTANCE OF TOMATO PRODUCTION
- 2.2.1 FUNGAL PATHOGENS FOUND IN TOMATO CROPS
- 2.3.2 CROP MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS INFLUENCE ON FUNGAL PATHOGENS IN TOMATOES
- 3.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS
- 3.1 SAMPLE COLLECTION
- 3.2 ISOLATION OF PATHOGENIC FUNGI
- 3.3 IDENTIFICATION OF FUNGI
- 3.4 DATA ANALYSIS
- 4.0 RESULTS
- 4.1 FUNGAL PATHOGENS ISOLATED FROM TOMATO CROPS
- 4.2 INCIDENCE (%) OF FUNGAL PATHOGENS ACROSS CROP MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
- 5.0 DISCUSSION
- 6.0 CONCLUSION
- REFERENCES
Objectives & Thematic Focus
This study primarily aims to isolate and characterize pathogenic fungi associated with tomatoes grown under various crop management systems, and to compare their occurrence across these systems. The underlying research question investigates how different agricultural practices influence the composition and incidence of fungal pathogens in tomato crops.
- Identification and characterization of pathogenic fungi affecting tomatoes.
- Evaluation of different crop management systems: natural, conventional, integrated, and inter-cropping.
- Assessment of fungal diversity and incidence in tomatoes cultivated under varied conditions.
- Contribution to sustainable disease management strategies in tomato production.
- Understanding the impact of fungal diseases on agricultural productivity and food safety.
Excerpt from the Book
1.1. Background
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is the second most cultivated vegetable globally, valued for its nutritional content and culinary versatility (Singh et al., 2017a). In Lesotho, tomatoes are cultivated both commercially and by subsistence farmers, including resource-poor farmers and home gardeners. Globally, tomato production ranks second to potatoes, with an estimated 1,000,000 tonnes produced annually on approximately 3,700,000 hectares (Pastor et al., 2012). Africa contributes 11.8% to global tomato production, but unfortunately, over half of the harvest is lost due to diseases (Olowe et al., 2022). Fungal diseases pose a significant threat to tomato production, causing substantial yield losses and economic damage. Among the fungi affecting tomatoes, the Alternaria genus is particularly destructive, reducing crop yields by 50–80%. Alternaria species are toxigenic, producing harmful mycotoxins such as tenuazonic acid and alterotoxins (Rodrigues and Furlong, 2022). Other fungal genera, including Fusarium, Penicillium, and Aspergillus, have also been detected in tomatoes. These pathogens not only diminish yields but also compromise the safety and quality of the produce.
In recent years, agricultural research has increasingly focused on alternative crop management systems to enhance agricultural sustainability. Concerns over the hazards associated with chemically synthesized herbicides and pesticides have spurred interest in disease management via biological and ecological methods (Singh et al., 2017b). The systems explored in this study include intercropping, integrated crop management, conventional crop management, and natural crop management, with the aim of evaluating their impact on tomato health. Intercropping is a cultural, non-chemical agricultural practice where two or more crops are cultivated on the same field in close proximity during a single year. This multiple cropping system enhances biodiversity, suppresses pests, and reduces the reliance on energy-intensive agriculture (Mala et al., 2020). Intercropping can mitigate fungal pathogens through mechanisms like competition for nutrients, allelopathy, and the production of antimicrobial compounds (Chen et al., 2023a).
Summary of Chapters
ABSTRACT: This section summarizes the study's aim to isolate and identify pathogenic fungi from tomatoes under different crop management systems, detailing the methodology, key fungal genera found (Alternaria, Penicillium, Botrytis, Fusarium), their varying incidences, and concluding with the importance of sustainable crop management.
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the global importance of tomato production, highlights the significant threat posed by fungal diseases, and sets the stage for investigating how various crop management systems influence tomato health.
2. Literature Review: This section critically examines existing research concerning the isolation and characterization of pathogenic fungi in tomatoes, particularly in the context of diverse crop management systems, and discusses the importance of tomato production.
3.0 Materials and Methods: This chapter outlines the detailed experimental procedures, including the collection of infected tomato samples, the method for isolating pathogenic fungi using potato dextrose agar, their identification through macroscopic and microscopic observations, and the statistical approaches used for data analysis.
4.0 Results: This chapter presents the findings of the study, describing the four fungal isolates characterized from tomatoes and summarizing their morphological traits and incidence percentages across different crop management systems.
5.0 Discussion: This section interprets the observed incidences of pathogenic fungi in tomatoes across various crop management systems, relating the findings to existing literature and emphasizing the effectiveness of integrated approaches in mitigating fungal infections.
6.0 Conclusion: This final chapter summarizes that Alternaria, Penicillium, Fusarium, and Botrytis were the main pathogens found, with varying incidences across management systems, highlighting the significance of crop management in preventing yield loss and recommending further characterization of unidentified fungi.
Keywords
Pathogenic fungi, tomatoes, crop management systems, Alternaria, Penicillium, Botrytis, Fusarium, agricultural productivity, food safety, intercropping, integrated crop management, conventional crop management, natural crop management, disease management, post-harvest losses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Worum geht es in dieser Arbeit grundsätzlich? (What is this work fundamentally about?)
This work fundamentally focuses on the isolation and characterization of pathogenic fungi found in tomatoes grown under different crop management systems, and comparing their incidence across these systems to inform sustainable disease management.
Was sind die zentralen Themenfelder? (What are the central thematic fields?)
The central thematic fields include pathogenic fungi, tomato cultivation, the efficacy of various crop management strategies (natural, conventional, integrated, inter-cropping), fungal identification techniques, and agricultural sustainability.
Was ist das primäre Ziel oder die Forschungsfrage? (What is the primary goal or research question?)
The primary goal is to isolate and characterize pathogenic fungi from tomatoes grown under different crop management systems, and to investigate how these varied agricultural practices influence the abundance and diversity of these fungi.
Welche wissenschaftliche Methode wird verwendet? (Which scientific method is used?)
The scientific method employed involves collecting infected tomato samples, isolating fungi using potato dextrose agar, identifying them through macroscopic and microscopic observations, and analyzing the percentage incidence of fungal genera across different crop management systems.
Was wird im Hauptteil behandelt? (What is covered in the main part?)
The main part of the work covers the introduction to the problem, a comprehensive literature review on fungal pathogens and management systems, detailed materials and methods, presentation of results on fungal isolation and incidence, and a discussion interpreting these findings.
Welche Schlüsselwörter charakterisieren die Arbeit? (Which keywords characterize the work?)
Key characterizing keywords include: pathogenic fungi, tomatoes, crop management systems, Alternaria, Penicillium, Botrytis, Fusarium, agricultural sustainability, and disease management.
What specific fungal genera were identified in the study?
The study specifically identified four pathogenic fungal genera: Alternaria, Penicillium, Fusarium, and Botrytis.
How did different crop management systems influence fungal incidence?
The study found that integrated and intercropping systems generally resulted in considerable decreases in fungal contamination compared to conventional and natural (control) approaches.
Which fungal genus had the highest occurrence in the natural system?
Alternaria showed the highest incidence in the natural (control) system, accounting for 48.96% of the occurrences.
What is the significance of integrated management systems based on this study?
Integrated management systems were found to be effective in mitigating fungal infections, suggesting that this approach can improve tomato output and reduce spoilage risks more efficiently.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Sempe Ntaote (Autor:in), 2025, Fungal pathogens and crop management systems, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1552420
