Induction of systemic resistance in tomato against Ralstonia solanacearum using

Ralstonia solanacearum that causes a vascular wilt disease and has been ranked as the second most important bacterial pathogen and it is one of the most destructive pathogens identified to date because it induces rapid and fatal wilting symptoms in host plants. Potential of thyme essential oil, tea tree essential oil and oregano essential oil in inducing systemic acquired resistance in tomato plants against R. solanacearum was evaluated. The study was lay-outed using CRD, replicated three times with five treatments: T1-control (negative control), T2- Salicylic acid (Positive control), T3-Tea Tree essential oil, T4- Thyme essential oil, and T5-Oregano essential oil. The experimental pots was inoculated with the bacteria and plant essential oils were applied after 2 hours of infestation, then pots were sealed with cellophane for 7 days and tomato seedlings were transplanted after 3 days of aeration. The result revealed that the different elicitors were effective in reducing disease incidence and disease severity in tomato plants. It also increase number of survival plants ranges from 55.55-77.78%, plant height increment and number of leaves. This result implies that tea tree oil, thyme essential oil and oregano essential oils are not only effective elicitors in inducing systemic resistance in tomato against R. solanacearum but it can also improve its growth and development.