Evaluation of I Gene Expression in Tomato Plants Against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici Managed Using Green Synthesized Magnesium Oxide Nanoparticles
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33003/fjs-2026-1013-5682Keywords:
Fusarium Pathogen, MgO Nanoparticles, I Gene, Level of ExpressionAbstract
Tomato plants possess specific resistance genes known as I genes (immunity genes), which provide resistance to different physiological races of the Fusarium pathogens. The I genes in tomato plants are identified to basically encode a membrane-anchored leucine-rich repeat receptor-like protein and S-receptor-like kinase located on chromosomes 11 and 7, respectively. Once the tomato plant recognizes effectors, it activates a defense response that restricts Fusarium pathogen growth. In this study, magnesium oxide nanoparticles were synthesized using leaf extract of Moringa oleifera with magnesium oxide precursor solution and characterized using UV-Vis spectrophotometric and dynamic light scattering techniques. The in vivo study revealed that magnesium oxide nanoparticles were effective in controlling Fusarium wilt disease in the infected tomato crops. The overall percentage disease incidence in tomato crops treated with magnesium oxide nanoparticles was significantly reduced to 10%, compared to the untreated control with 100% disease incidence after 30 days of post inoculation. Also, the research highlighted that the I gene expression levels in the roots and stems of tomato plants treated with MgO nanoparticles were relatively the same with the actin gene, which serves as the reference gene, with slight variation compared to the controls. The study established that MgO nanoparticles effectively control tomato wilt disease, but through a mechanism other than I gene expression, as study results showed slight differences in expression levels between nanoparticle-treated and control tomato crops.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Evans Igiehon, Shittu Hakeem Olalekan, Samuel Darwin Ijesuosehmwen, Victoria Aniju Nwakaego Victoria Aniju Nwakaego
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