Dynamics of Leaf Blight Disease Caused by Alternaria alternata in Gerbera Under Protected Cultivation

Gerbera is an important flower crop grown throughout the world under wide range of climatic conditions. Diseases are main constraint in protected cultivation of gerbera due humid and warm climate. There are several diseases reported in gerbera among them leaf blight and powdery mildew are major devastating diseases. During the course of investigation under protected cultivation of gerbera, leaf blight Alternaria alternata were observed as a major occurring disease. The weather during 29^th and 35^th standard week i.e. July and August played an important role for fast progress of the disease and hence can be considered as window period for leaf blight of gerbera. The correlation matrix indicated that leaf blight severity had a highly significant and positive correlation with relative humidity during the course of investigation under protected cultivation.