Methanolic extracts of mycorrhizal and water stressed Lupinus albus (L) plants enhance phenolic compound content, antioxidant activity and antifungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici
摘要
Natural plant compounds offer a potential alternative to chemical fungicides in agricultural management. The current study examines methanolic extracts of Lupinus albus (L.) leaves and roots exposed to water stress conditions at 30% field capacity (F.C.), with and without mycorrhizal inoculum, to evaluate their susceptibility to Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici in vitro and in vivo. Methanolic extracts were obtained through maceration of leaves and roots for phenolic compound analysis and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging assay. The direct contact method was used to quantify in vitro inhibition of F. oxysporum growth by L. albus extracts. The most promising extracts were subsequently tested in vivo for their antifungal activity against tomato disease severity, and morphological and biochemical characteristics. Results showed that mycorrhization and water stress enhanced phenolic compound synthesis, leading to improved antioxidant capacity of the tested extracts. In vitro experiments demonstrated strong inhibition of F. oxysporum growth by that methanolic extracts, with those from mycorrhizal plants proving more effective than their non-mycorrhizal counterparts. Notably, methanolic extracts of mycorrhizal plant leaves and roots under 30% F.C. stress exhibited the highest antifungal activity among all tested extracts. In vivo trials revealed that root methanolic extracts outperformed commercial fungicide in combating fungal strains, while leaf extracts also showed efficacy. These findings support the use of L. albus extracts as a biological crop protection strategy to mitigate F. oxysporum infections.