Department of Plant Pathology, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India

^*Corresponding author: Gahlot N, Department of Plant Pathology, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India; E-mail: nitishagahlot560@gmail.com

Copyright: © Gahlot N, et al. 2022. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Information: Submission: 11/05/2022; Accepted: 20/06/2022; Published: 22/06/2022

Fusarium wilt or vascular wilt of tomato, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici is one of the major constraints in tomato production. A survey was carried out to assess the incidence and distribution of fusarium wilt in different Agro-climatic zones of Rajasthan in the year 2019-20 and 2020-21 (Figure 1). Total fifty villages of different agro-climatic zones were surveyed involving five fields of every village by counting infected or diseased plants in tomato field of 5×5 m2 area of randomly selected from four to five places in each field. Highest wilt incidence was recorded in Zone IIIA (28.07%) followed by Zone IVA (24.02%) while, lowest percent disease incidence was recorded by Zone IVB (21.28%). At districts level, maximum disease incidence was found in Udaipur (31.08%) followed by Jaipur (28.07%) and Banswara (22.70%). Minimum wilt incidence was observed in Chittorgarh (16.99%) followed by Pratapgarh district (19.86%). The survey results revealed that disease incidence was noticed causing loss in tomato crop and production.

Survey; Tomato; Wilt disease; Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) belongs to the family Solanaceae and it is viewed as one of the world’s most mainstream vegetables [1-3]. It is widely grown throughout the world and considered as most important tropical vegetable crop. A number of biotic and abiotic factors affect the quality and productivity of tomato. Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.lycopersici (Sacc.) W.C. Snyder and Hans a serious disease of tomato causes 30-40% yield loss and under favorable conditions losses increased to 80% [4]. Fusarium oxysporum is a soil borne pathogen by nature, which gets entry through the roots and disturb vascular system of the plant resulting yellowing, drooping and downward curvature of the leaves and finally death of plant. Browning of vascular system in infected stems and leaf petioles with larger size than normal, is strong evidence of Fusarium wilt (Figure 2A and 2B). Survey and surveillance are the basic requirement to assess the incidence of any disease and distribution of pathogen population and further studies on biology and variability of the pathogen.

A survey was carried out to know the severity of tomato wilt during the year 2019-20 and 2020-21 in different Agro-climatic zones (IVA, IIIA and IVB) of Rajasthan, which includes five districts viz., Udaipur, Chittorgarh, Jaipur, Pratapgarh and Banswara. Total fifty villages were surveyed in all the five districts (Table 1). Observation on percent disease incidence was taken by counting infected or diseased plants in tomato field of 5×5 m² area of randomly selected from four to five places in each field by using the following formula.

The disease samples were uprooted, collected and packed in clean polythene bags along with rhizospheric soil of wilted plants from farmer’s field then labeled and transferred to the laboratory for isolation and identification of the pathogen.

Survey was carried out to know the severity of tomato wilt during the year 2019-20 and 2020-21 in different Agro-climatic zones (IVA, IIIA and IVB) of Rajasthan, which includes five districts viz., Udaipur, Chittorgarh, Jaipur, Pratapgarh and Banswara. Total fifty villages were surveyed which are mentioned in materials and methods and evident from Table 2 and 3 The results of pooled data showed that percent disease incidence of all five districts varied from 9.22% to 42.89% in both the year [5,6].

In Udaipur district surveyed villages during 2019-20, showed variation in percent disease incidence ranging from 20.67% (Bijanwas) to 39.51% (Alsigarh). Highest percent disease incidence was recorded in Alsigarh (39.51%) followed by Akodra (35.89%) and Badgaon (31.45%). Minimum percent disease incidence was recorded in Bijanwas (20.67%) followed by Ganeshpura (23.48%). The disease incidence in left over villages was ranged from 24.12% (Deoli) to 30.82% (Baleecha).During 2020-21, ten villages of Udaipur districts depicted percent disease incidence ranging 18.63% (Bijanwas) to 46.26% (Alsigarh). The maximum percent disease incidence was showed by Alsigarh (46.26%) followed by Badgaon (39.95%) and Deoli (39.67%) while, minimum percent disease incidence was showed by Bijanwas (18.63%) followed by Chatarpura (25.99%). Percent disease incidence in remaining villages was ranged from 28.08% (Ganeshpura) to 36.12% (Pratappura).It is evident from pooled data that highest percent disease incident was showed by Alsigarh (42.89%) followed by Badgaon (35.70%) whereas, lowest percent disease incidence was recorded by Bijanwas (19.65%) followed by Ganeshpura (25.78%).

During the survey in 2019-20 in villages of Pratapgarh percent disease incidence range was found from 8.15% (Chirwa) to 29.49% (Bhojpur). The maximum wilt incidence was found in Bhojpur (29.49%) followed by Bhogpura (33.63%). The minimum wilt incidence was showed by village Chirwa (28.26%) followed by Awleshwar (10.15%).Survey done in 2020-21 showed that percent wilt incidence ranged from 10.78% (Achalpur) to 32.50% Bhojpur). The highest wilt incidence was depicted by Bhojpur (32.50%) followed by Dateeyar (30.42%). The lowest wilt incidence was showed by Achalpur (10.78%) followed by Chirwa (11.67%). Pooled data revealed that maximum percent wilt incidence was found in Bhojpur (32.50%) followed by Dateeyar (28.55%). Minimum disease incidence was showed by Chirwa (9.91%) followed by Achalpur (12.55%).

Survey in Jaipur district which was carried out in ten villages during 2019-20 showed variation from 45.19% (Devgaon) to 33.43% (Hingoniya). The most disease incidence was found in Devgaon (45.19%) followed by Bobas (44.17%) and least disease incidence was found in Hingoniya (33.43%) followed by Durgapura (34.11%). During survey 2020-21 among ten villages of Jaipur, maximum percent wilt incidence was found in Devgaon (48.13%) followed by Barodiya (43.57%), while minimum wilt incidence was found in Durgapura (32.73%) followed by Hingoniya (36.53%). From pooled data it is depicted that maximum wilt incidence concluded in Devgaon (46.66%) followed by Bobas (42.61%) while minimum wilt incidence concluded in Durgapura (33.42%) followed by Hingoniya (34.98%).

In Chittorgarh, among surveyed ten villages in 2019-20 wilt incidence fluctuated between 7.88% (Semaliya) to 28.09% (Theekariya). In which maximum wilt incidence found in Theekariya (28.09%) followed by Ghosunda (23.67%). Minimum wilt incidence was shown by Semaliya (7.88%) followed by Anoppura (8.75%). In 2020-21 survey data of percent wilt incidence in Chittorgarh villages, it was found 9.80% (Daulatpura) which was extended up to 30.34% (Theekariya). Highest wilt incidence showed by Theekariya (30.34%) followed by Ghosunda (28.95%). Minimum wilt incidence found in Daulatpura (9.80%) followed by Semaliya (10.56%). Pooled data depicted highest wilt incidence in Theekariya (29.22%) followed by Ghosunda (26.31%). Lowest wilt incidence depicted in Semaliya (9.22%) followed by Anoppura (10.43%)

In Banswara survey data 2019-20, ten villages showed wilt incidence varied from 10.96% (Bagpura) to 37.68% (Haripura). Maximum wilt incidence found in Haripura (37.68%) followed by Dhamniya (29.92%). Minimum wilt incidence found in Bagpura (10.96%) followed by Bodla (12.21%).Survey data 2020-21 of wilt incidence ranged from 12.31% (Amleeya) to 33.85% (Haripura). Highest wilt incidence showed by Haripura (33.85%) followed by Bagidora (28.56%). Lowest wilt incidence showed by Amleeya (12.31%) followed by Bagpura (14.70%). Pooled depicted highest wilt incidence in Haripura (35.77%) followed by Bagidora (27.20%), lowest wilt incidence found in Bagpura (12.83%) followed by Bodla (15.47%).

All five districts of different Agro-climatic zones (IV A, III A and IV B) showed variation in percent wilt incidence of tomato wilt during two consecutive years 2019-2020 and 2020-21. During 2019- 20 maximum percent disease incidence was depicted in Agro-climatic Zone IIIA (26.75%) followed by Zone IVA (22.55%). Minimum percent disease incidence was showed by Zone IVB (21.18%). During 2020-21 highest disease incidence was showed by Agro-climatic zone IIIA (29.40%) followed by Zone IVA (25.92%). Minimum percent disease incidence was showed by Zone IVB (21.37%). In pooled data maximum disease incidence recorded in Agro-climatic zone IIIA (28.07%) followed by Zone IVA (24.02%). Minimum (21.28) percent disease incidence was recorded in Zone IVB (Table 3). Such reports on survey documented by Kapoor (1988) from different agro-climatic regions of India (Delhi, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu) in 1981-1983 and recorded 3 to 100% disease incidence on eight tomato cultivars. Similarly, Khan et al. (2016) recorded 10.67% to 80.34% wilt incidence in different districts of Uttar Pradesh for fusarium wilt of tomato.

It is concluded Fusarium wilt disease of tomato, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici (Sacc.) is one of the major constraints in tomato production. Survey results showed prevalence and disease severity in different Agro-climatic Zones and highest in Zone IIIA [7].

The authors gratefully acknowledge, Department of Plant Pathology, Rajasthan College of Agriculture,Udaipur (Rajasthan), for providing the facilities to carry out the research work. This study was performed as part of the first author’s Ph.D. dissertation.