Materials and methods for the control of plant pathogens

A method for reducing damage to tomato plants caused by Ralstonia solanacearum wherein said method consists essentially of applying to soil, as a fumigant, a composition consisting essentially of thymol, ethanol and a detergent, wherein the concentration of ethanol is at least 1%, wherein tomato plants are planted in the soil within 25 days of the application of the fumigant to the soil, and wherein the use of said fumigant results in an increase in the market basket of tomatoes due to the control of Ralstonia solanacearum without phytotoxicity to the tomato plants.