Department of Mycology and Plant Pathology, Dr.Y.S.Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan-173230
National Symposium on Strategic Issues in Plant Pathological Research held at Department of Plant Pathology, CSK HP Krishi Vishvavidayalaya, Palampur on November 24–25, 2011
Tomato, one of the important crops under protected cultivation is affected by various fungal and bacterial pathogens, of which powdery mildew is one of the serious problems of tomato crop. Although various chemicals have been recommended for spray against powdery mildew but due to their hazardous effects their use in organic farming is not allowed. Other environment friendly alternative methods based on the natural source of sulfur are required. In literature, the role of milk, asafoetida and plants rich in sulfur like onion, garlic and brassica crops have been well documented. Therefore, nine organic inputs/treatments viz., T1-cow milk (1%), T2-cow milk (10%), T3- cow milk (10%) +asafoetida (1%), T4-sulfur (1%), T5- cow milk (10%) +sulfur (1%), T6-garlic and onion extract(10%), T7-fermented leaves of Brassica oleracea var. acephala(Kale) in cow urine (10%), T8-sulfur water from Manikarn Hot Springs and T9-contol were evaluated against this disease in three genotypes of tomato viz., Hawaii, Palam Pride and 12-1 under polyhouse conditions in the Department of Organic Agriculture, CSKHPKV, Palampur during April to July, 2011. The sprays were repeated at weekly interval. None of the treatment could fully control the disease. However, among these, T4 provided minimum disease severity in all the three varieties with disease severity ranged between 5 to 8% followed by T3 (10 to 15%) and T2 (15 to 25%) in comparison to control. Rest of the treatments were intermediate in disease management. Carnation is one of the major cut flowers in the florist's trade ranking next only to rose and chrysanthemum in the world flower market. This flower is attacked heavily by wilt causing fungus, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. dianthi, which produces chlorosis and distortion of the lower leaves often on one side of the plant followed by vascular discoloration and stem necrosis. The disease is very serious in all the carnation growing areas so the present study was undertaken to manage carnation wilt with organic amendments, soil solarization individually and in combination with antagonists. Out of nine organic amendments two viz., neem cake and pine needles were statistically superior in reducing the disease and provided 77.49 and 72.49 per cent disease control. There was drastic reduction in disease incidence in solarized soil (31.25%) than unsolarized soil (85.00%). Soil treatment with antagonist after solarization revealed that that antagonists Trichoderma viride and T. harzianum together reduced the disease incidence in comparison to individual application of antagonists. A positive correlation also existed on plant growth parameters in the above treatments. Average maximum spike length, diameter of flowers, flower size also increased simultaneously in antagonists treated solarized soils.
