Status of tomato early blight in Shivamogga and Davanagere districts

Abstract

Early blight (Alternaria solani) of tomato is most destructive disease in tropical and subtropical countries. It is a potential disease of tomato that reduces its production globally both in conventional and tunnel cultivations. Tomato crop is vulnerable to infection by bacterial, viral, nematode and fungal diseases. Among the fungal diseases, early blight of tomato caused by A. solani and causing loss from 50 to 86 per cent in fruit yield. The survey was conducted during Kharif 2015 in Shivamogga and Davanagere districts of Karnataka, revealed that range of per cent disease index from 22.35 to 47.25. The highest PDI of 47.25 was recorded in Nyamati village followed by Savalanga (46.20 PDI) and Malebennuru (45.25 PDI) villages of Davangere district respectively. In Shivamogga district maximum PDI was recorded at Kommanal (42.50). The minimum Per cent disease index 22.35 and 39.75 was recorded in Avarekoppa (Shivamogga) and Kenchikoppa (Davangere) respectively.