BIO-INTENSIVE MANAGEMENT OF FUSARIUM WILT OF TOMATO UNDER PROTECTED CULTIVATION
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Date
2012
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ABSTRACT
The present investigation on “Bio-intensive management of Fusarium wilt of tomato under
protected cultivation” was carried out in the Department of Plant Pathology, Dr. Y. S. Parmar University
of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (Himachal Pradesh) under laboratory and polyhouse
conditions during 2011-12 to work out a biologically sustainable management strategy against Fusarium
wilt of tomato. During the survey of tomato growing areas in four districts in mid hills of Himachal
Pradesh viz. Solan, Sirmour, Hamirpur and Bilaspur, the overall incidence of Fusarium wilt was
observed to be 19.50 per cent in polyhouses. The pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici
(FOL) was isolated from affected plants and pathogenicity was proved. Three fungal BCAs viz.
Trichoderma harzianum, T. viride, T. hamatum and one bacterial antagonist Pseudomonas flourescens
were isolated from tomato soil in pure cultures. Four different genera of arbuscular-mycorrhizal (AM)
fungi were found associated with rhizospheric soil of tomato plants and identified to be Glomus spp.,
Acaulospora spp., Scutellospora spp. and Gigaspora spp. These AM fungi were multiplied on Guinea
grass in pots. Amongst different BCAs tested in vitro T. viride was found most effective which resulted
up to 49.86 per cent inhibition to mycelial growth of FOL in dual cultures. Amongst different biofumigant
crop residues (green as well as dry) tested in vitro, taramira resulted highest inhibition in
mycelial growth of FOL i.e. 62.59 and 60.74 per cent, respectively. All the effective bio-intensive
management inputs evaluated under in vitro conditions were again evaluated under polyhouse in an
integrated manner. The results of polyhouse experiment indicated that integration of bio-intensive
management practices like bio-fumigation of sick soil with taramira crop residues for 30 days and soil
application of talc based formulation of T. viride after mixing with FYM and inoculation of transplants
with culture of indigenous AM fungi provided more than 80 per cent disease control of Fusarium wilt of
tomato caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici under protected cultivation conditions. This
bio-intensive management practice also increased growth parameters viz., height, number of branches
and plant dry weight as well as yield parameters like number of fruits per plant and fruit yield per plot.
Colony forming units (cfu/g) of Fusarium spp. were found reduced and that of Trichoderma spp. were
increased in soil with this treatment. The spore population of AM fungi was also found more in the plots
receiving this treatment as compared to control.