Prothioconazole is the only commercially available fungicide with proven efficacy. Azoxystrobin, prothioconazole and thiophanate-methyl led to the highest values for reduction of Fusarium wilt and did not cause phytotoxicity in watermelons.
Some of the most effective fungicides for Fusarium have been identified through many research trials. Strobilurins like pyraclostrobin (Insignia or Pageant) or azoxystrobin (Heritage) are often some of the most effective.
There is no effective fungicide or other cure for Fusarium wilt. The pathogen nearly always kills infected hosts. Prevention and exclusion are the only effective management strategies. Avoid this problem by replanting at that site using species from different genera than plants previously infected there by Fusarium.
The resistance of Fusarium species to most antifungal agents results in high mortality rates in immunocompromised patients. Natamycin is active against Fusarium species and, with voriconazole, is the mainstay of treatment for Fusarium keratitis.
You can reduce the spread of Fusarium wilt by limiting overhead watering, sanitizing equipment and planting resistant cultivars. Infected seeds and transplants are also common vectors of the disease, so know your sources or take proactive measures to sterilize plants before introducing them into the growing area.
AMB considered being the most effective drug against Fusarium, followed by VRC. Posaconazole can be used for refractory cases. Nonetheless, the usage of monotherapy for the treatment of systemic fusariosis is unsatisfactory owing to high rates of resistance against antifungal agents.
Use an effective fungicide. These include: metconazole (Caramba®), prothioconazole + tebuconazole (Prosaro®), prothioconazole (Proline®), and adepidyn (Miravis Ace®). Apply an effective fungicide at the correct time. The most effective application window is from flowering (anthesis; Feekes 10.5.
These wilt diseases are all soil-borne and can persist for many years in the soil even if no host plants are grown. They can also be brought into a garden on infected transplants or soil. Fusarium wilt does not spread above the ground from plant to plant.
Plants in the Solanaceae family that were evaluated include Nicotiana glauca, Solanum aculeastrum, Solanum mauritianum and Solanum seaforthianum. Leaf extracts from these plants demonstrated potent in vitro activities (minimum inhibitory concentrations <1.0 mg/mL) against nine Fusarium species (Table 2).
For Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae, the pathogen which causes Fusarium wilt of lettuce, the required temperature for control is generally taken to be > 140°F for 20 minutes.
Tomato is the solanaceous crop most frequently affected by a Fusarium wilt disease in Kentucky, but Fusarium wilts can also occur on eggplant and pepper. Affected cucurbit crops include cucumber, watermelon, and occasionally muskmelon.
The rest of the antifungals tested (itraconazole, voriconazole, ravuconazole, posaconazole and terbinafine) showed very poor activity against Fusarium, confirming the multiresistant nature of this genus.
Heritage is an effective systemic fungicide, providing control of Microdochium (Fusarium) Patch, Anthracnose, Take-All Patch, Brown Patch, Leaf Spot/Melting out, Rust diseases and Type 2 Fairy Rings.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for fusarium wilt. The only option is preventing fusarium in your plants. Once your plants are infected, they must be removed and destroyed.
Synthetic fungicides are widely used to control wilt diseases. Thiophanate-methyl was found to be effective against Fusarium wilt disease when applied as a soil drench and a seed dresser3.
How to Control Fusarium Wilt: Once fusarium wilt infects a plant, there is no effective treatment. Remove and dispose of affected plants immediately; don't compost this garden refuse. Whenever possible, remove and replace fusarium-infected garden soil.
In general, control of Fusarium wilt disease can be accomplished by improving soil conditions, planting disease-resistant varieties, removing infected plant tissues, using clean seeds, and using soil and fungicides.
Fusarium can survive in soil for 5-10 years, surviving as saprophytes (lives on dead/decaying organic matter) in plant debris in soil indefinitely and producing dormant and tough resting spores.
Prochloraz and bromuconazole were the most effective fungicides against the pathogen both in vitro and in vivo, followed by benomyl and carbendazim.
Avoid over-watering: Over-watering can increase the chances of Fusarium Wilt because the fungus thrives in moist soil.
Fusarium wilt affects the productivity of tomato plants and may lead to death, but the fruit is still edible.