International Journal of Agriculture, Environment and Biotechnology
Citation: IJAEB: 8(1): 127-133 March 2015
DOI Number: 10.5958/2230-732X.2015.00017.0
©2015 New Delhi Publishers. All rights reserved
16
PLANT PATHOLOGY
Evaluation of suitable antagonists in the management of
early blight of tomato cultivar CO-3
Geeta Singh 1 , Sujoy Saha 2 , Ruchi Garg 2 , Bineet Kumar Sharma 2 , Awadhesh
Bahadur Rai 2 and Rana Pratap Singh 1
1 Udai Pratap Autonomous College, Dept. Botany, Bhojubir, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh – 221003 , India.
2 Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Post bag No.1,P.O. Jakhini (Shahansapur),Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh-221305, India.
*Corresponding author: sujoyta@gmail.com
Paper No. 301
Received: 6 November 2014
Accepted: 3 March 2015
Published: 25 March 2015
ABSTRACT
Early blight of tomato is one of the most destructive diseases caused by Alternaria solani causing
considerable loss to quality and quantity of fruits. To avoid chemical fungicides in the management
of this menace, soil borne rhizospheric organisms were isolated and evaluated against the pathogen.
Different antagonists i.e Aspergillus sp. Trichoderma sp . Pseudomonas sp. and Bacillus sp. were used against
most virulent isolates of A. solani under in vitro and in vivo conditions. Maximum in vitro inhibition
of mycelial growth of Alternaria solani was observed in case of Trichoderma sp. (87.69%) followed by
Aspergillus sp. (84.23%) as compared to control. Under glass house conditions Trichoderma sp. exhibited
a similar efficacy with a percent disease control ranging from 82.6-91.3.
Highlights
  • Six bio-antagonists T-8, T-17, F-4, T-2, PS-4 and BAS-2 were antagonistic to tomato early blight
    • pathogen.
  • T-8 recorded the highest inhibition under in vitro conditions as well as in glass house conditions
    • Keywords: Alternaria solani , screening, evaluation, antagonists
    Tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum ) is one of the most
    the growth of cancerous cells (Bhowmik et al., 2012).
    important solanaceous vegetable crops grown
    The total production of tomato in the country is
    worldwide (Maria et al., 2014). The acid sweet
    168.2 lakhs tonnes with a productivity of 19.5MT/ Ha
    taste and unique flavor account for its popularity
    (Anon. 2011). Diseases are one of the most limiting
    and diverse usage. Due to its high per capita
    factors for the production of tomato. The early blight
    consumption, tomatoes are nutritionally valuable
    disease caused by Alternaria solani causes yield loss of
    for their high pro vitamin A and vitamin C. Besides
    tomato to a great extent (Derbalah et al., 2011). Under
    being an integral part of Indian cuisine, tomatoes
    favourableconditionsmorethan80%diseaseseverity
    hold a pivotal position in the food processing
    of early blight was recorded in tomato (Pandey et al.,
    industries. “Lycopene” produced only by tomato is
    2002). Irregular spots appear in scattered form with
    a natural antioxidant that works effectively to slow
    brown conspicuous concentric rings and often with
    127