Effect of Plant Extracts and Boron on Incidence of Alternaria Blight, Browning Diseases and Yield of Cauliflower

Abstract

Leaf extract of chirata (Andrographic paniculata), neem (Azadirachta indica), wild tulsi, Trichoderma viride (Tv), boron, Trichoderma viridae and their combination were evaluated against management of Alternaria blight of cauliflower caused by Alternaria brassicae an browning diseases of cauliflower. Mean of two years data showed that highest cauliflower yield of 517.7 q ha-1 was obtained when Seed treatment with Tv plus soil application of boron @ 1kg ha-1 plus two spray of Chiraita leaf extract (5%) was applied. This treatment also recorded browning disease incidence of 5.4%, Alternaria blight disease intensity of 9.5% and increase in yield over control of 84.9%. This treatment was followed by seed treatment with with Tv plus soil application of boron @ 1kg ha-1 plus two spray of leaf extract of wild tulsi (5%) which recorded cauliflower yield of 492.9 q ha-1, browning disease incidence of 7.1%, Alternaria blight disease intensity of 12.9% and increase in yield over control of 76.0%, whereas, the control plots recorded cauliflower yield of 280.3 q ha-1, browning disease incidence of 63.5%, Alternaria blight disease intensity of 22.4%.