Evaluation of biochemical changes in infected and non-infected plants of tomato with <em>Alternaria solani</em> <em></em>

Abstract

The present study was carried out to evaluate the biochemical changes occurring in infected and non infected leaves of tomato with Alternaria solani. Various biochemical constituents were studied viz., chlorophyll content (chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b), total sugars (reducing and non reducing sugar), total phenol content and total soluble protein. Results revealed that infected plants show severe necrosis and there is sudden decline in chlorophyll content (chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b) and in amount of total soluble sugar (reducing and non reducing sugar) and increase in protein and phenol content in infected plants. The result indicate that pathogen Alternaria solani causes severe alteration in biochemical constitutes of tomato plant that directly or indirectly reduce the resistance or weakens the defense response of tomato against virulent pathogen.