Integrated management of major tomato diseases

Abstract

Five integrated pest management (IPM) packages for management of major tomato diseases were evaluated during kharif seasons of 2015-18 using tomato cv.NS501. The most effective integrated schedule comprised of (a) seed priming with Seed pro (combination product of Bacillus subtilis and Trichoderma harzianum) @4g/ kg of seed followed by soil application of Seed pro @10g/kg of soil while filling of pro trays and soil drenching of Seed pro @5% after seed germination (b) Covering nursery with 50- mesh nylon net, (c) border planting with two rows of maize at least 15 days before transplanting of seedlings in the main field, (d) seedling dip with 0.1% (carbendazim 12%+mancozeb 63% WP) at the time of transplanting. (e) Main field sequential spraying with acephate 75% WP @1.5g/l on 10 days after transplanting (DAT), fipronil 5% SC @1.5ml/l on 20 DAT, copper hydroxide 77% WP (2.0g/l) on 25 DAT, imidacloprid 70% WG @2g/15l on 40 DAT, and fenamidone 10% + mancozeb 50% WDG (0.25%) three times from 45 DAT at 10 days interval. Analysis of pooled data indicated that the treatment involving IPM schedule was found statistically significant and superior with consistent reduction of late blight by 31.40%, early blight by 41.17% and tomato leaf curl by 67.47% over control with highest yield (377.77 q/ha) and incremental cost benefit ratio (10.3). Pesticide residue analysis revealed no detection of residues in harvested fruits