Journal of Applied Botany and Food Quality 86, 138 - 142 (2013), DOI:10.5073/JABFQ.2013.086.019

Agricultural Biotechnology and Phytopathology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan

Management of root diseases of eggplant and watermelon
with the application of asafoetida and seaweeds

Ghulam Nabi Baloch, Samrah Tariq, Syed Ehteshamul-Haque, Mohammad Athar, Viqar Sultana, Jehan Ara
(Received October 10, 2012)

Summary
Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) and watermelon (Citrullus la-
natus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai) are highly susceptible to root
rotting fungi Fusarium solani, F. oxysporum, Macrophomina
phaseolina and root knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.) causing
huge losses each year in Pakistan. In field experiments, application
of asafoetida, a medicinal gum from Ferula assafoetida and sea-
weeds Spatoglossum variabile, Stokeyia indica and Melanothamnus
afaqhusainii showed significant suppressive effect on root rotting
fungi Fusarium solani, Macrophomina phaseolina and root knot
nematode Meloidogyne incognita) attacking watermelon and
eggplant and improved plant growth in soil naturally infested with
root rotting fungi and artificially infested with root knot nematode.
Length of vine of watermelon, shoot length of eggplant and fresh
shoot weight were higher in seaweed and asafoetida treated plants
as compared to control or Topsin-M, a fungicide, treated plants.
Seaweed and asafoetida treated plants also showed earlier fruiting
than control or fungicide treated plants. At farmer’s field seaweed
showed similar suppressive effect on F. solani and M. phaseolina
and root knot nematode on watermelon in soil naturally infested by
these pathogens. Application of seaweed produced healthy plants
and number of fruits and weight were significantly higher in seaweed
and asafoetida treated plants. Asafoetida and seaweeds offer a non-
chemical means of disease management.

Introduction
Cucurbits and vegetable crops are highly susceptible to a number
of root and soilborne diseases causing great losses in yield and
quality (Sharma et al., 2004; Chehri et al., 2010). Watermelon
(Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum & Nakai) is a cucurbit fruit,
grown throughout the world and consumed as fresh fruit. Fusarium
wilt of watermelon caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum
is among the most important diseases of watermelon (Zhou and
evertS, 2004). The disease is well known as mature watermelon
vine decline (sudden wilt of watermelon). Infected plants also
showed the presence of Fusarium solani, Macrophomina phaseolina,
Rhizoctonia solani, Monosporascus cannonballus and Pythium spp.
besides F. oxysporum (BoughalleB and el mahjouB, 2006). The
disease is best controlled through the use of wilt resistant cultivars
and crop rotations for a minimum of 5 to 7 years (martyn, 1996).
However, resistance in commercial cultivars often no longer is
effective due to the presence of the highly aggressive race of
F. oxysporum (martyn, 1987). Similarly, among the various
vegetables, eggplant (Solanum melongena) is one of the most
common and extensively grown all over the world. Eggplant wilt
complex caused by a number of fungal genera such as Fusarium,
Verticilium, Rhizoctonia, Sclerotium and Phytophthora take a
considerable portion of produce annually (najar et al., 2011).
Moreover, eggplant is highly susceptible to toot knot nematodes,
species of Meloidogyne (Zarina and Shahina, 2010).
Several nonchemical methods including addition of organic amend-
ments are an effective method for controlling soilborne pathogens

and diseases in various field crops (Chellemi, 2002; huBer, 1980;
Zhou and evertS, 2004). Marine bioactive substances extracted
from seaweeds have been used for several decades to enhance
plant growth and productivity. (rathore et al., 2009; Stirk and
van Staden, 1997). The application of seaweeds as organic soil
amendment, has been increased in the recent years due to raising
awareness about the adverse effect of chemical pesticides (Sultana
et al., 2007; 2008; 2009; 2011). Similarly, asafoetida or hing, a
dry latex or resinous gum from Ferula assafoetida has been widely
used in various indigenous systems of medicine in India and
Pakistan. It is regarded as an effective remedy for worms and other
intestinal parasites. From old ages, farmers in Malir, Karachi area
of Sindh, are applying asafoetida for preventing the plants from
root diseases particularly nematode attacks and increasing yield.
However, scientific reasons are still unclear. In this study, efficacy
of some seaweeds and asafoetida were evaluated in field plots on
watermelon and eggplants in suppressing the soilborne diseases
and their effect on plant growth. The experiment was also conducted
at farmer’s field on watermelon.

Materials and methods
Asafoetitda (Ferula assafoetida) was purchased from local
market whereas seaweeds Melanothamnus afaqhusainii Shameel,
Spatoglossum variabile Fig. et De Notar [= S. lubricum Fig. et De
Notar] and Stokeyia indica Thivy et Doshi [= Cystoseira indica
(Thivy et Doshi) Mairh] were collected at the coastal area of Karachi
at low tide. The seaweeds were washed under tap water, dried under
shade, ground to powder and stored in polyethylene bags at room
temperature until used.

Field plot experiments
The experiments were conducted at the Crop Diseases Research
Institute, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, Karachi Univer-
sity Campus, Karachi. Dry powder of seaweeds Melanothamnus
afaqhusainii, Spatoglossum variabile and Stokeyia indica were
mixed in sandy loam soil at 70 g per two meter rows and watered
2-3 days interval to allow the organic matters to decompose, where-
as aqueous suspension of asafoetida (200 pp) was applied at 400 ml
per 2 meter row. The soil had a natural infestation of 5-16 sclerotia/g
of soil of Macrophomina phaseolina (Sheikh and ghaffar,
1975), 5-12% colonization of Rhizoctonia solani on sorghum seeds
used as baits (Wilhelm, 1955) and 2500cfu/gm of soil of mixed
population of Fusarium oxysporum and F. solani as determined by
soil dilution (naSh and Snyder, 1962). After two weeks of seaweed
decomposition, 12 seeds of watermelon were sown in each row.
Whereas in the case of eggplant, three-week-old seedlings of equal
size, raised in steam sterilized soil, were transplanted in each row at
12 seedlings per row. After one week of seed germination or seedling
transplantation, each row was inoculated with aqueous suspension
of Meloidogyne incognita eggs/juveniles at 2000 / two meter row.
Topsin-M (200 ppm) at 400 ml / 2 meter row and carbofuran (1 g /

Management of root diseases of eggplant and watermelon 139

2 m row) served as positive control against fungi and nematode
respectively. Each treatment was replicated four times and plants
were watered 2-3 days intervals depending upon requirement of
plants.
To determine the efficacy of seaweeds and asafoetida on the root
pathogens and plant growth, plants were uprooted after six weeks
of nematode inoculation. Observations were made on yield, plant
height, fresh shoot weight, root length and root weight. Nematode
infection was determined by counting the numbers of galls per
root system (tayler and SaSSer, 1978). To determine nematode
penetration and infection by root-infecting fungi, roots from each
plant were cut into 1 cm long pieces and five pieces of tap roots
from each plant were used for assessment of fungal infection. The
remaining roots were mixed thoroughly, and 1 gram sub-sample
was wrapped in muslin cloth and dipped in boiling 0.25% acid
fuchsin stain for 3-5 minutes. Roots were left in the stain to cool,
and then washed under tap water to remove excess stain. Roots were
transferred to vials containing glycerol and water (1:1 v:v) with a
few drops of lactic acid. Roots were macerated in an electric blender
for 45 seconds and the resulting suspension was suspended in 50 ml
water. Numbers of juveniles and females in five 5 ml sub samples
were counted with the aid of dissecting microscope and numbers
of nematode/g root were calculated (Siddiqui and ehteShamul-
haque, 2001). To determine the incidence of fungal infection, 1 cm
long root pieces from tap roots (five pieces from each plant) were
surface disinfested with 1% Ca (OCl)2 solution and plated onto
potato dextrose agar amended with penicillin (100,000 units/l) and
streptomycin (0.2 g/l). After incubation for 5 days at 28°C, colonies
of Macrophomina phaseolina, Rhizoctonia solani and species of
Fusarium were recorded. The experiment was repeated twice. Data
were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and means were
separated using the least significant difference (LSD) according to
gomeZ and GomeZ (1984).

Farmer’s field experiment
Efficacy of asafoetida and seaweeds in protecting the watermelon
from root rotting fungi and root knot nematode were also evaluated
at farmer’s field in Malir, Karachi. Watermelon field about 6 acres
was selected before the sowing of seeds. Fifteen meter rows were
selected for each treatment at different locations in the field and dry
powder of seaweeds Melanothamnus afaqhusainii, Spatoglossum
variabile and Stokeyia indica were mixed in soil at 35 g per meter
and watered 2-3 days interval to allow the organic matters to de-
compose, whereas aqueous suspension of asafoetida (200 pp)
was applied at 200 ml per meter. The soil had variable natural

infestation of root rotting fungi and root knot nematode. After two
weeks of amendment, seeds of watermelon were sown in each row.
Observations were recorded after 80 days of seed germination.

Results
Field plot experiment
Eggplant
Fusarium solani and Macrophomina phaseolina were found in
higher frequencies in control plants than R. solani or F. oxysporum.
Plants grown in seaweed or asafoetida amended soil showed less
infection of M. phaseolina than control plants. Spatoglossum
variabile was also found effective against F. solani (Tab. 1). Seaweed
and asafoetida also showed significant suppressive effect on root
knot nematode by reducing gall formation on roots and nematode’s
penetration in roots as compared to untreated control (Tab. 2).
Efficacy of asafoetida and seaweed against root knot nematode is
comparable with carbofuran, a nematicide. Taller plants and greater
fresh shoot weight was produced by S. indica (Tab. 2).

Watermelon
Application of seaweeds Spatoglossum variabile, Melanothamnus
afaqhusainii and asafoetida caused a suppressive effect on root
rotting fungi by reducing the infection of M. phaseolina, R. solani
and F. oxysporum on watermelon roots. Stokeyia indica was effective
against F. solani (Tab. 3). Seaweeds and asafoetida also showed
suppressive effect on root knot nematode by reducing the nematode’s
penetration in roots (Tab. 4). Vine length and fresh weight were
significantly higher in watermelon grown in Spatoglossum variabile
amended soil than other treatments (Tab. 4). Plants grown in sea-
weed or asafoetida amended soils also showed earlier emergence of
fruits than control of pesticides treatments.

Farmer’s field experiment
Watermelon
Infection of Fusarium solani was found in higher frequencies in
control or treated watermelon plants. However, plants grown in
S. variabile amended soil showed less infection of F. solani than
other treatments, whereas topsin-M treated plants showed no in-
fection of F. solani (Tab. 3). Macrophomina phaseolina infection
was found in control plants only. Nematode penetration in water-
melon roots were found less in S. indica S. variablie, asafoetida
amended soil or in topsin-m treated plants (Tab. 4). Number of fruits
and fruit weight were higher in plants grown in asafoetida or seaweed

Tab. 1: Effect of asafoetida and seaweed on the infection of root infecting fungi on eggplant in field plot experiment.

No. Treatments M. phaseolina R. solani F. solani F. oxysporum
Infection %

1. Control 68.7 6.2 31.2 6.2
2. Topsin-M 12.5 0 12.5 0
3. Carbofuran 18.7 31.2 43.7 6.2
4. Asafoetida 6.2 50 43.7 0.0
5. Stokeyia indica 0.0 0.0 50 0.0
6. Spatoglossum variabile 0.0 6.2 18.7 0.0
7. Melanothamnus afaqhusainii 12.5 12.5 25 0.0

LSD0.05 Treatments= 10.31 Pathogens= 7.82

1Mean values in column showing differences greater than LSD values are significantly different at p< 0.05.
2Mean values in rows showing differences greater than LSD values are significantly different at p< 0.05.

140 G.N. Baloch, S. Tariq, S. Ehteshamul-Haque, M. Athar, V. Sultana, J. Ara

Tab. 2: Effect of asafoetida and seaweed on the infection of root knot nematode and growth of eggplant in field plot experiment.

No. Treatments No. of knots J2/females Plant Fresh Root Fresh
/g roots height shoot length root
(cm) wt. (g) (cm) wt. (g)

1. Control 92.5 192 14.2 20.2 7.7 11.7
2. Topsin-M 23.2 124 21.2 29.7 5.2 4.1
3. Carbofuran 16 80 26.5 33.7 11 10.2
4. Asafoetida 16.5 80 18.7 32.3 9.7 12.7
5. Stokeyia indica 7 72.7 38.5 40.1 10.5 11.7
6. Spatoglossum variabile 12 79.2 24.5 29.5 8.2 4.5
7. Melanothamnus afaqhusainii 24.2 102.5 17 27.6 6.7 2.6

LSD0.05 35.11 15.31 9.61 14.01 3.11 3.61

1Mean values in column showing differences greater than LSD values are significantly different at p< 0.05.

Tab. 3: Effect of asafoetida and seaweeds on the infection of root infecting fungi on watermelon in field plot experiment (after 45 days of nematode inocu-
lation) and at farmer’s field (after 80 days of sowing).

No. Treatments M. phaseolina R. solani F. solani F. oxysporum
Infection %

Field plot experiment
1. Control 31.2 25 37.5 18.7
2. Topsin-M 43.7 25 50 12.5
3. Carbofuran 12.5 6.2 43.7 18.7
4. Asafoetida 6.2 0 18.7 0
5. Stokeyia indica 50 12.5 18.7 0
6. Spatoglossum variabile 6.2 6.2 31.2 6.2
7. Melanothamnus afaqhusainii 0 0 50 0

Farmer’s field experiment
1. Control 18.7 6.2 37.5 0
2. Topsin-M 0 0 0 0
3. Asafoetida 0 0 12.5 0
4. Stokeyia indica 0 6.2 37.5 0
5. Spatoglossum variabile 0 0 18.7 0
6. Melanothamnus afaqhusainii 0 0 31.2 0

LSD0.05 Field plot experiment Treatments= 9.071 Pathogens= 6.862
Experiment at farmer’s field Treatments= 7.31 Pathogens= 5.22

amended soil than control plants. Vine length and fresh weight
was found significantly higher in plants grown in M. afaqhusainii
amended soil (Tab. 4).

Discussion
Protecting the plant roots from soilborne plant diseases with or-
ganic amendments and improving plant growth and yield is practiced
since long by the farmers throughout the world. The suppressive
effect of organic amendments on diseases is primarily associated
with a reduction in pathogen inoculums density in amended soil
(Chun and loCkWood, 1985; Sun and huang, 1985; SuBBa-
rao et al., 1999). In this study, soil amendment with seaweed or
asafoetida in general showed suppressive effect on soilborne
pathogens and have a positive effect on growth of watermelon
both in field plots and at farmer’s field. Plant grown in seaweed or

asafoetida amended soil showed earlier fruiting, greater number of
fruits and weight than control plants. It was reported that seaweed
extracts increased plant resistant to pests and diseases, improve
plant growth, yield and quality (rathore et al., 2009; Stirk and
van Staden, 1997; verkleij, 1992). Application of seaweed to
plants can result in decreased levels of nematode attack (ara et
al., 1997; Wu et al., 1997; 1998), due to presence of betaines (Wu
et al., 1997) and root rotting fungi (Sultana et al., 2007; 2008;
2009; 2011) due to 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC),
which has antimicrobial activity (NELSON and van Standen,
1985) or due to volatile compounds and essential oils (kajiWara
et al., 2006). Seaweed could also affect cell metabolism through the
induction of the synthesis of antioxidant molecules which could favor
plant growth and plant resistance to stress (ZHANG and SCHMIDT,
2000). TARIQ et al. (2011) has already reported the presence of
polyphenols and antioxidant activity of seaweeds from the Karachi

Management of root diseases of eggplant and watermelon 141

coast.
In this study, the potential of asafoetida in suppressing the soilborne
diseases has been confirmed. Asafoetida or hing, is regarded as an
effective remedy for worms and other intestinal parasites and pos-
seses antimicrobial and antioxidant activities (iranShahy and
iranShahi, 2011). Biological activity of sesquiterpene coumarins
from Ferula species has also been reported (naZari and iranShahi,
2011). Similarly lee et al. (2009) reported antiviral and cytotoxic
agents from Ferula assafoetida. Growth inhibition of plant patho-
genic fungus Fusarium by the essential oils extracted from asafetida
has also been reported (Sitara et al., 2008).
Due to the damaging influence on crop yields, the root knot
nematodes Meloidogyne incognita, M. javanica, M. arenaria and
M. hapla are considered economically important pests worldwide
(roBertSon et al., 2006). The damages are much higher in tropical
and subtropical countries where environmental factors favor their
survival and dispersal (Sikora and fernandeZ, 2005). In this study,
the application of asafoetida and seaweeds besides, suppressing the
same root rotting fungi also showed significant reduction in gall
formation on roots and nematode’s penetration into roots of eggplant
and improve plant growth. Eggplant is susceptible to several
insects and pest, particularly Fusarium wilts (F. oxysporum f. sp.
melongenae) and root knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) which
reduced the yield (PhaP et al., 2010). Due to high susceptibility,
eggplant is widely used for maintaining the pure culture of root
knot nematode (Siddiqui et al., 2001; Sikander et al., 2009). In
this study, efficacy of asafoetida and seaweed is comparable to
carbofuran, a commercial nematicide. Nonchemical management
of soilborne pests has been practiced for centuries. Only in the
last 40 years agricultural producers have come to rely on synthetic
chemicals for the control of soilborne pest and diseases (Chellemi,
2002). However, due to raising awareness about the adverse effect
of chemicals, organic forming is gaining popularity (Sultana
et al., 2011). The ability of seaweeds and asafoetida in reducing the

root knot nematode on a highly susceptible crop showed its great
potential in future nematode pest management.

Acknowledgements
Financial support provided the Dean, Faculty of Science, University
of Karachi is sincerely acknowledged. We are also thankful to
Dr. Aly Khan, Director, Crop Diseases Research Institute, Pakistan
Agricultural Research Council, Karachi University Campus, Karachi
and Mr. Feroz Baloch, a progressive farmer for providing the space
and other facilities for conducting the experiments.

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No. Treatments No. of J2/females No. of fruit Vine Fresh Root Fresh
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Address of the author:
Mr. Ghulam Nabi Baloch, Agricultural Biotechnology and Phytopathology
Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270,
Pakistan.
Miss Samrah Tariq, Agricultural Biotechnology and Phytopathology
Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270,
Pakistan.
Prof. Dr. Syed Ehteshamul-Haque, Agricultural Biotechnology and
Phytopathology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Karachi,
Karachi-75270, Pakistan.
Dr. Mohammad Athar, Pest Detection and Emergency Projects, California
Department of Food and Agriculture, 3288 Meadowview Road, Sacramento,
CA 95832, USA. E-mail: atariq@cdfa.ca.gov
Prof. Dr. Viqar Sultana, Biotechnology and Drug Development Laboratory,
Department of Biochemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270,
Pakistan.
Prof. Dr. Jehan Ara, Post Harvest Technology and Food Biochemistry
Laboratory, Department of Food Science and Technology, University of
Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan.