Abstract
This study was initiated to validate a tomato powdery mildew, caused by Leveillula taurica (Lev.) Arn., forecast model in Egypt. Environmentally acceptable control may be achieved using a weather based forecasting system due to the reduced use of agrochemicals and their residues in both environment and food. A computerized disease forecast model for tomato powdery mildew (Egy. Tom-PM) as named by the authors was validated during the 2006 and 2007 growing seasons. The micrometeorological parameters monitored hourly in tomato cano- py were ambient air temperature, relative humidity, leaf wetness duration, wind speed and global radiation using a wireless real-time automatic Agro-weather station model (Adcon Telemetry model A733, add wave). Results indicated that Egy.Tom-PM forecast model accurately defined disease risk appearance and reduced number of sprays in both years compared with the routine application (10D) and (7D) sprays in 2006 and 2007 respectively. Basic roles of system analysis for model validation and evaluation are discussed.
Highlights
Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) is very important vegetable crop in Egypt for both local consumption and exportation purposes.Powdery mildew, caused by Leveillula taurica (Lev.) Arn., is the most important disease for tomato in both greenhouses and open fields
Results indicated that Egy.Tom-PM forecast model accurately defined disease risk appearance and reduced number of sprays in both years compared with the routine application (10D) and (7D) sprays in 2006 and 2007 respectively
The results of entire study indicated that Egy.Tom-PM program (Powdery mildew early warning computerized model) for tomato powdery mildew, which designed using the roles of system analysis, was successfully validated in Egypt under tomato field conditions allowing the best timing for fungicide application to reduce the number of fungicide applications for effectively control of powdery mildew compared with full schedule-fungicide program with both (7D) and/or (10D) schedule
Summary
Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) is very important vegetable crop in Egypt for both local consumption and exportation purposes. Powdery mildew, caused by Leveillula taurica (Lev.) Arn., is the most important disease for tomato in both greenhouses and open fields. The anamorphic stage of Leveillula taurica found in tomato crop is known as Oidium taurica (Lev.) Salmon [1]. Powdery mildew infects other vegetable crops such as pepper, eggplant, and cucumber [2]. The most common symptoms of tomato powdery mildew are yellow and necrotic spots on the upper leaf surface and powdery white spots on the lower side of the leaves [3]. Environmental conditions have a positive influence on tomato powdery mildew and greatly affect the disease development operation
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