Tomato late blight yield loss assessment and risk aversion with resistant hybrid

Abstract

Late blight (Phytophthora infestans) is one of the devastating diseases of tomato worldwide. Field trial was carried out in Kharif 2019 and 2020 in Hesaraghatta, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, to estimate yield loss due to late blight and to assess extent of protection in resistant genotype during late blight epiphytotics. Yield loss was calculated as per cent difference in yield between fungicides treated and unprotected plots in three F1 hybrids NS501, Arka Rakshak, both susceptible genotypes and Arka Abhed, a resistant genotype. Over two years, average yield loss due to late blight was 79.47 per cent in NS501, 75.53 per cent in Arka Rakshak and 12.84 per cent in Arka Abhed. With lower mean AUDPC values (147.22 in 2019 and 469.17 in 2020) and with low yield loss, Arka Abhed provided affordable protection against late blight. Our findings indicate late blight as an economically important peril to be considered for tomato yield loss coverage under insurance scheme in Bengaluru region. Arka Abhed hybrid can be cultivated to avert yield loss risk associated with late blight epiphytotics.