A novel azo dye ligand, formed by the coupling of 5-aminosalycalic acid (mesalamine drug) with 2-amino pyrimidine (H 2 L) and its Co 2+ , Ni 2+ , and Cu 2 + complexes, was synthesized. The structures of ligand and its complexes have been described by elemental analysis, inductively coupled plasma (ICP), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), magnetic moment measurements, molar conductance, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis), X-ray powder diffraction, infrared (IR), 1 H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), 13 C NMR, and electron impact (EI) mass spectral studies. The obtained data detected that the H 2 L ligand acts as monobasic tridentate via C=N, azo nitrogen, and deprotonated OH groups. The data supported the formation of 1:2 (M:L) for Co 2+ complex, while Ni 2+ and Cu 2+ gave 1:1 (M:L) complexes mononuclear formulation. The Co 2+ and Ni 2+ complexes have octahedral structures, while Cu 2+ complex has tetrahedral geometry. The ligand and its Co 2+ , Ni 2+ , and Cu 2+ complexes were applied as an antifungal against a set of root rot-associated soil-born phytopathogenic fungi and compared with the effect of Hatric (recommended fungicide). Our findings revealed that the metal complexes exhibited greater antifungal activity than the parent ligand. The Cu 2+ complex was found to be the most effective compound.The effect of Hatric and Cu 2+ complex on structural alterations of Fusarium semitectum was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).