Sustainable disease management in tomatoes: Fe3O4 nanoparticles as an eco-friendly alternative to conventional fungicides for Fusarium wilt control

Abstract

Fusarium wilt disease caused by the soil pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici significantly impacts global tomato production. While conventional fungicides remain the primary control method, their high application volumes and environmental persistence necessitate alternative approaches. We hypothesize that magnetite nanoparticles (NPs) suppress fungal growth through a tripartite mechanism that disrupts membrane integrity at the nano-bio interface, generation of reactive oxygen species through iron-mediated catalysis, and perturbation of fungal iron homeostasis pathways.