Abstract
Disease management is often complicated by the presence of multiple types of pathogens; in an organic system, it is appropriate to develop disease control strategies. The available literature so far reflects that the management of important disease of tomato is through the integrated approaches and very few organic approaches have been tried with various degree of success. Boiopriming of seeds with biocontrol agents (Trichoderma viridae, Trichoderma harzianum and Pseudomonas fluorescens) in combination with different biofertilizers (Azotobacter, Azospirillum and PSB) and organic manures (FYM and vermi-compost) were tested against disease incidence and health management of tomato seedling under nursery as well as field conditions. The studies were conducted during two successive years (2012-2013) at farmer’s field with the objective to combat with the increasing disease incidence of three major disease damping-off, fusarium wilt and buckeye rot from nursery stage to the final harvesting. The study focused on the use of biocontrol agents as the suitable alternative to chemical pesticides with sustainable disease management without pesticide residues in foodstuff. The bio priming of seeds with fungal antagonist Trichoderma viridae and harzianum and bacterial antagonist Pseudomonas fluorescens significantly improved the germination behavior of tomato seeds as compared to untreated control. Highest mean germination (93.1%) and seedling vigour (953.33) was recorded in Treatment 3 (FYM @ 200 q/ ha + Azospirillum + PSB + Trichoderma herzianum (4 kg/ha each) and lowest in control (60.3%) and (304.83), thus indicating a significant per cent increase in seedling emergence (54.4%) and seedling vigour (95.23%). A considerable reduction in disease incidence (pre and post) of damping off was observed in treatment T? and T? (VC @ 50 q/ha + Azospirillum + PSB + Trichoderma herzianum @ (4 kg/ha) with 45.6% and 35.4% respectively). Treatment T? proved highest in terms of yield (665 Kg/Ha), Hence these diseases can be managed by successful application of Biocontrol agents.
Highlights
Solan lalima is an open pollinated and indeterminate variety of tomato having superiority over the present tomato hybrids available in the markets in terms of fruit quality and productivity
The reduction in potential yield in hills by the farmer is due to the increasing susceptibility of pre and post emergence of insect-pest and diseases at regular intervals, right from the nursery raising to the final harvesting period, where the incidence of most pathogenic diseases like Damping off (Pythium aphanidermatum), bacterial wilt (Ralstonia solani) and fusarial wilt (Fusarium oxysporum) etc. can be witnessed which ruin the crop diversity and quality to the most worst level
The use of conventional chemical pesticides is considered most preferred practices to manage the outbreaks of these diseases, but the indiscriminate chemical approach to deal with these hazards has contributed to adverse effects like soil acidity, impairing soil physical conditions, reducing beneficial microbial population and continuously degrading organic matter, increasing plant susceptibility to insect-pest-diseases and decreasing soil lives
Summary
Solan lalima is an open pollinated and indeterminate variety of tomato having superiority over the present tomato hybrids available in the markets in terms of fruit quality and productivity. The importance of healthy seed selection and disease free nursery raising is the most important requirement to have the desired crop performance, lower the abiotic and biotic yield limiting constrains, reduce the incidence of insect-pestdisease (IPD) and to fetch remunerative economic return to the farmers. The reduction in potential yield in hills by the farmer is due to the increasing susceptibility of pre and post emergence of insect-pest and diseases at regular intervals, right from the nursery raising to the final harvesting period, where the incidence of most pathogenic diseases like Damping off (Pythium aphanidermatum), bacterial wilt (Ralstonia solani) and fusarial wilt (Fusarium oxysporum) etc. The use of conventional chemical pesticides is considered most preferred practices to manage the outbreaks of these diseases, but the indiscriminate chemical approach to deal with these hazards has contributed to adverse effects like soil acidity, impairing soil physical conditions, reducing beneficial microbial population and continuously degrading organic matter, increasing plant susceptibility to insect-pest-diseases and decreasing soil lives
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