07-08-2013, 12:55 PM
Physiological Studies of Alternaria solani causing early blight of tomato
ABSTRACT
Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) is used to produce soup, juice, ketchup, paste and powder and adds variety of colour and flavour to the food. It is better for blood and all infections of liver. Dried tomato juice retains vitamin ‘C’ and ripened fruits are good source of ascorbic acid, organic acid and minerals. Experiments were conducted to know the morphological variability of early blight of tomato caused by Alternaria solani. The pathogen causing early blight (Alternaria solani) was isolated on PDA. Morphological characters of the fungus were recorded on PDA at 2nd, 4th and 6th day of incubation. It was revealed that maximum conidial size (20.11 m length and breadth 7.70 m) (at 40 X) was recorded on 6th day of incubation. To screen different solid media, an experiment was conducted and it was found that maximum growth of Alternaria solani was observed on potato dextrose agar medium (20.50 mm, 43.17 mm, 60.90 mm) at 2nd, 4th, 6th day of incubation. PDA proved to be the best medium for the growth of Alternaria solani.