Abstract

Fungal pathogens cause economically important diseases in tomato. Fungus Curvularia lunata has been reported the cause of tomato leaf blight and fruit rot. The objective of this study was in vitro evaluation of fungicides and biocontrol agents against leaf blight and fruit rot pathogen. For this purpose, surveys of different tomato fields were conducted for the collection of samples from infected tomato fields. For the isolation of C. lunata , potato dextrose agar (PDA) media was used. Pathogen was identified on genus level on the basis of macroscopic and microscopic characteristics. In vitro pathogenicity assays were conducted to check the virulence of isolates. Poison food technique was used for the evaluation of five different fungicides against C. lunata . All fungicides significantly inhibited mycelial growth of C. lunata at 3 rd , 5 th and 7 th day at different concentrations. Nativo showed best results against C. lunata and inhibited mycelial growth to 50.64%, 55.65% and 58.9% followed by Metalaxyl+Mancozeb 37.33%, 43.57% and 45.98% at 3 rd , 5 th and 7 th day, at 50, 100 and 150 ppm concentrations, respectively. Minimum percent inhibition was given by Topsin-M 33.43%, 36.15% and 43.9% at same concentrations. Dual culture technique was used for the evaluation of biocontrol agents (BCAs) against C. lunata . Trichoderma harzianum showed maximum antagonistic potential to suppress the growth of pathogen C. lunata (70.72%). All tested BCAs inhibited the growth of pathogen more than 60% in dual culture assays. The present study revealed that Nativo fungicide and BCA T. harzianum have the potential to control C. lunata .