Fungal foes in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.): A dual perspective onpathogenicity testing and morpho-cultural variability

P D Biradar; A P Suryawanshi; K R Mediga

doi:10.24154/jhs.v21i1.3969

Authors

P D Biradar Department of Plant Pathology, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra-India - 413 722, India , Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth Author
A P Suryawanshi College of Agriculture, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Udgir - 413517, India , Marathwada Agricultural University Author
K R Mediga Department of Plant Pathology, School of Agriculture, Mohan Babu University, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh - 517102, India , Government of Andhra Pradesh Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24154/jhs.v21i1.3969

Keywords:

Cultural characters, fruit rot, pathogenicity, post-harvest disease, tomato

Abstract

Tomato fruit rots caused by Alternaria solani, Colletotrichum capsici, Fusarium solani, and Aspergillus niger are among most widely distributed and destructive diseases of tomato, causing about 20-60% yield losses. In the present study, pathogens associated with tomato fruit rot were isolated using the tissue isolation technique on potato dextrose agar (PDA). The pathogenic fungi identified include Alternaria solani, Colletotrichum capsici, Fusarium solani, and Aspergillus niger. The pathogenicity of these fungi was confirmed through fruit pinpricking and cotton swab inoculation techniques, which induced symptoms similar to those observed in naturally infected fruits. The morpho-cultural characterization of these test fungi exhibited a wide range of variability. Colony diameter ranged from 82.33 to 90.00 mm with rapid and highest growth rate in A. niger. Colony color varied from greyish white to black with circular to irregular shape, regular to irregular margins, smooth to rough topography, flat to raised elevations, and presence/absence of zonations. Furthermore, distinct morphological variability with respect to septation, sporulation, condiophore and conidial development etc. was observed in all the test pathogens. The diameter of conidiophores (105 x 7.5 μm2) and conidia (37.5 x 8.9 μm2) were comparatively large sized in A. solani compared to remaining fungi isolated.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

P D Biradar, Department of Plant Pathology, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra-India - 413 722, India, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth

PhD Scholar, Plant Pathology
A P Suryawanshi, College of Agriculture, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Udgir - 413517, India, Marathwada Agricultural University

Former Professor and Head, Plant Pathology
K R Mediga, Department of Plant Pathology, School of Agriculture, Mohan Babu University, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh - 517102, India, Government of Andhra Pradesh

Plant Pathology, Assistant Professor

References

Agrios, G. N. (2005). Plant diseases caused by fungi. Plant Pathology, 4, 385–614. https://doi.org/10.1016/C2009-0-02037-6

Bankole, S. O., Bankole, R. T., Babalola, Y. O., Emmanuel, I. B., Ojubolamo, M. T., & Awotedu, B. F. (2018). Biological control of anthracnose disease of tomato using ethanolic extracts of Azadirachta indica and Nicotiana tabacum. International Journal of Agricultural Science, 4, 20–26. https://doi.org/10.21467/ias.4.1.20-26

Biradar, P. D., Suryawanshi, A. P., & Patait, N. N. (2021a). In vitro bioefficacy of essential oils against Alternaria solani and Colletotrichum capsici, causing tomato fruit rots. The Pharma Innovation Journal, 10(12), 1671–1674.

Biradar, P. D., Suryawanshi, A. P., & Patait, N. N. (2021b). In vitro bio-efficacy of phyto extracts against Alternaria solani and Colletotrichum capsici, causing tomato fruit rots. The Pharma Innovation Journal, 10(12), 1784–1787.

Biradar, P. D., Suryawanshi, A. P., & Patait, N. N. (2021c). In vitro bioefficacy of bioagents against Alternaria solani and Colletotrichum capsici, causing tomato fruit rot. The Pharma Innovation Journal, 10(12), 1773–1776.

Britt, B. F., & Kristin, R. (2011). Tomato consumption and health: Emerging benefits. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 8, 182–191. https://doi.org/10.1177/1559827610387488

Danis, C. (1983). Post-harvest pathology of fruits and vegetables (pp. 24–28). London, England: Food Science and Technology: A Series of Monographs.

Derbalah, A. S., El-Mahrouk, M. S., & El-Sayed, A. B. (2011). Efficacy and safety of some plant extracts against tomato early blight disease caused by Alternaria solani. Plant Pathology Journal, 10(3), 115–121. https://doi.org/10.3923/ppj.2011.115.121

FAOSTAT. (2023). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. http://faostat.fao.org

Kasi Rao, M. (2026). Post-harvest tomato diseases and their management using conventional and advanced biotechnological and digital tools. Krishi Netra, 4(1), 35–40.

Kumar, A., & Chahal, T. S. (2016). Studies of Aspergillus black spot disease of pomegranate caused by Aspergillus niger in Punjab. International Quarterly Journal of Life Science, 11(4), 2775–2781.

Moss, M. O. (2002). Fungi, quality and safety issues in fresh fruits and vegetables. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 104, 1239–1243. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2672.2007.03705.x

Parey, M. A., Razdan, V. K., & Sofi, T. A. (2013). Comparative study of different fungi associated with fruit rot of chilli and screening of chilli germplasm against Colletotrichum capsici. International Journal of Agriculture & Crop Science, 5(7), 723–730.

Rick, C. M. (1991). Tomato paste: A concentrated review of genetic highlights from the beginnings to the advent of molecular genetics. Genetics, 128(1), 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1093/genetics/128.1.1

Sajad, A. M., & Jamaluddin Abid, H. (2017). Fungi associated with the spoilage of postharvest tomato fruits and their frequency of occurrences in different markets of Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India. International Journal of Current Research Review, 9, 12–16.

Sunkad, G., & Kasi Rao, M. (2022). Postharvest disease management of horticultural crops under changing climatic scenario. In D. Singh, V. Devappa, S. Jahagirdar, H. R. Gautam, & R. Aggarwal (Eds.), Today & Tomorrow’s Printers and Publishers (pp. 117–124). New Delhi, India.

Tsitsigiannis, D. I., Antoniou, P. P., Tjamos, S. E., & Paplomatas, E. J. (2008). Major diseases of tomato, pepper and eggplant in greenhouses. European Journal of Plant Science & Biotechnology, 2(1), 106–124.

Tuite, J. F. (1969). Plant pathological methods: Fungi and bacteria (p. 239). USA: Burgess Publishing Company.