Protective role of fat hen (Chenopodium album L.) extract and gamma irradiation treatments against fusarium root rot disease in sunflower plants

One of the most drastic diseases causing economic losses in sunflower crops is fusarium root rot caused by Fusarium solani. Plant extracts and ionizing radiation provide alternative environmentally safe control agents that have a significant role in controlling and overcoming this fungal plant pathogen. In the present study, the effect of different concentrations of aqueous Chenopodium album extract (2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5 and 6.0%) and gamma radiation at a dose of 6 Gy were examined for their efficacy in inducing resistance of sunflower plants against fusarium root rot caused by F. solani MG‐3 by evaluation of some physiological and biochemical parameters of infected and healthy plants under greenhouse conditions. The pre‐treatment of sunflower seeds with 6% C. album extract and 6 Gy gamma radiation reduced fusarium incidence from 47.49% to 28.25%. Also, nucleic acid content, ascorbic acid, α‐tocopherol, anthocyanin, total flavonoids, proline, glycine betaine and lipid components significantly increased in irradiated infected plants treated with C. album extract, while H2O2 content and lipid peroxidation markedly decreased as compared with healthy control plants. Moreover, treatment with gamma radiation reduced the amount of unsaturated fatty acids through accumulation of saturated fatty acids compared with non‐irradiated plants; treatment with C. album extract also enhanced the content of unsaturated fatty acids, with a noticeable decrease in saturated fatty acid content. Hence, C. album extract and gamma radiation can be used to enhance biological control of fusarium root rot of sunflower plants. Application of ecofriendly dual treatment of Chenopodium album extract (6.0 %) and gamma rays (6 Gy) could alert sunflower plant's resistance to root rot disease caused by Fusarium solani under greenhouse conditions.