Fusarium wilt of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is affected by many fungal and viral diseases. The Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici) is a major soil borne disease of tomato causing severe yield loss. A study was undertaken for the management of this disease by integrated disease management with biocontrol agents and fungicides. Survey conducted in major tomato growing districts of Tamil Nadu revealed that wilt disease of tomato caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici was observed in almost all the major tomato growing districts of Tamil Nadu and the percent disease incidence ranged from 9.00 to 15.00 percent. In case of mycelial growth Ottanchatram isolate recorded maximum mycelial growth when compared to other isolates. The pathogen was isolated and identified based on the mycelial characters and pathogenecity was proved. In the cultural character, this pathogen grows well in PDA media at pH of 6.5 with an optimum temperature of 25 - 28o C.Twenty isolates of bacterial and ten fungal antagonists were isolated from different rhizosphere soils in Tamil Nadu.