Management of Fusarium wilt of tomato by soil amendment with Cenchrus pennisetiformis under chromium stress

Abstract Allelopathic grass, Cenchrus pennisetiformis plant material (CPPM) was used to manage Fusarium wilt of tomato caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici (FOL) under abiotic stress of Cr(III) and Cr(VI). Both biotic and abiotic stresses caused wide variations in metabolic reactions of the plant with up or down regulation of total protein content and activities of antioxidant enzymes (catalase and peroxidase). Real-time PCR results revealed variability in expression pattern of chitinase and metallothionein like gene in all treatments. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra of tomato leaf showed major changes in region of protein (amides I and II), lipid and carbohydrate. Tomato plant exhibited more tendency to uptake Cr(VI) than Cr(III). Soil amendments with 2% CPPM showed remarkable potential to decrease both biotic and abiotic stresses by decreasing disease and mortality through altering plant physiology, gene expression and molecular configuration of tomato plant.