RELATIVE POTENTIAL OF DIFFERENT PLANT EXTRACTS AND GERMPLASM FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF TOMATO MOSAIC VIRUS DISEASE

Tomato is an important vegetable crop grown on all continents of the world. Tomato mosaic virus disease significantly lowers the yield in the field every year. The present study was conducted to find the resistant germplasm and to evaluate the potential of different plant extracts to manage the Tomato mosaic virus (ToMV) disease in field conditions. Ten tomato genotypes were evaluated against the ToMV disease in field conditions. Out of ten varieties/lines, no one was found highly resistant and two varieties/lines (VRI-575 and Naqeeb) were evaluated as resistant to the disease. Aqueous extracts of three different plants (Azadirachta indica, Calotropis procera and Allium cepa) were potentially evaluated at 1% concentrations by three-times foliar application against the disease. In control, nothing was applied. A significant difference in disease index was observed among plant extracts. The disease significantly decreased with the number of applications. Azadirachta indica was found most effective to manage the disease as compared to the others in field conditions. Allium cepa was found least effective against the ToMV disease. From the present study, it was revealed that Naqeeb and VRI-575 varieties/lines may be used for the future breeding program and extracts of Azadirachta indica may be applied to manage the disease.