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Root‐knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.), soil‐borne diseases and weeds seriously reduce the commercial yield of tomatoes grown under protected cultivation in China. Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), a natural product obtained from damaged Brassica tissues, was evaluated as a potential replacement for the fumigant methyl bromide (MB) for use in the greenhouse production of tomatoes in China.

The dose–response assay indicates that AITC has high biological activity against major bacterial and fungal pathogens (EC₅₀ of 0.225–4.199 mg L⁻¹). The bioassay results indicate that AITC has good efficacy against root‐knot nematodes (LC₅₀ of 18.046 mg kg⁻¹), and moderate efficacy against fungal pathogens (LC₅₀ of 27.999–29.497 mg kg⁻¹) and weeds (LC₅₀ of 17.300–47.660 mg kg⁻¹). The potting test indicates that AITC significantly improved plant vigor. Field trials indicate …