Vol. 12, Issue 3 (2023)

Author(s):
Ajay Kumar Jaiswal, Mohammad Faisal and Satya Prakash Tailor

Abstract:
Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) is one of the most significant vegetable crops cultivated in 4.5 million hectares with an output of 115.5 million metric tonnes globally. India ranked third internationally in terms of output and area with production of 333.25 metric tonnes from an area of 27.56 million hectares. Several diseases limit the output of tomatoes leading to 100 percent yield losses. Among all diseases, wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (FOL) is the most destructing in both greenhouse and field environments. Hence, a study was carried out at during Rabi seasons in 2020-2022 at Laboratory and Agriculture Farm, School of Agriculture Science and Technology, Sangam University Bhilwara for eco-friendly management of wilt by treatment of bio-agents, botanicals and were compared to the chemical and control. The treatments were T₁ - T. viride @ 5%, T₂ - T. harzianum @ 5%, T₃ - Garlic extract @ 5%, T₄- Neem @ 5%, T₅ – NSKE @ 5%, T₆ - Karanj oil @ 5%, T₇ - T. viride @ 2.5% + Garlic extract @ 2.5%, T₈ - T. harzianum @ 2.5% + Garlic extract @ 2.5%, T₉ - T. viride @ 2.5% + Neem oil @ 2.5%, T₁₀ - T. harzianum @ 2.5% + Neem oil @ 2.5%, T₁₁ - T. viride @ 2.5% + NSKE @ 2.5%, T₁₂ - T. harzianum @ 2.5% + NSKE @ 2.5%, T₁₃ - Provax [carboxin + Thiram] @ 2gm/litre and T₁₄ – Control. Results showed that Provax [carboxin + Thiram] @ 2gm/litre was best effective for attaining the maximum height (76.95 cm), maximum number of branches (15.68), maximum number of leaves (97.61) and maximum yield (219.98 q/hec.) with maximum disease reduction (8.14%). In comparison to chemical treatment bio-agent T. harzianum @ 5% was also equally effective for maximum height (747.32 cm), maximum number of branches (15.19), maximum number of leaves (96.52) and maximum yield (214.09 q/hec.) with maximum disease reduction (10.45%). In the lab experiment, T₁ - T. viride (65.64 %) followed by T₁₁ - T. harzianum (66.11 %) was best effective in inhibiting the mycelial growth of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours after inoculation.