Surveillance of tomato foot rot caused by Rhizoctonia solani in Pothohar Region of Pakistan
Abstract
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is the world's 2nd largest vegetable crop after potato. Diseases of tomato are considered as the limiting factor to its economic production. Rhizoctonia solani Kühn (teleomorph = Thanatephorus cucumeris (Frank) Donk) is the most important soil-borne fungal pathogen that has a significant establishment with soil and causes seedling death, and foot rot in tomato. It is a ubiquitous soil-borne fungus with broad host range and diverse genetic makeup. A survey of different locations of districts Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Attock, Chakwal and federal capital Islamabad was conducted during 2014 and 2015 cropping season to figure out the scenario of tomato foot rot. The disease was 100% prevalent to all the visited locations. Maximum mean disease incidence (38.7%) was observed in Islamabad followed by district Attock (36.3%), district Rawalpindi (34.9%) and district Chakwal (29.6%) while minimum mean disease incidence was recorded in district Jhelum (27.5%). This varying incidence of foot rot of tomato may be attributed to the varying climatic conditions including temperature variations, relative humidity and cultivation of susceptible varieties. The findings of the present studies can serve as basics to evaluate integrated disease management strategies against tomato foot rot.
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