ASSESSMENT AND SCREENING OF DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF TOMATO WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO LATE BLIGHT DISEASE IN GARO HILLS OF MEGHALAYA

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the present study was to assess and screening of different varieties of tomato against late blight diseases Methodology: On the basis of resistance capacity of the cultivars 3 varieties (Arka Samrat, Arka Rakhshak and Arka Abedh) were selected for trial. Treatments like control, blitox and Trichoderma were taken and its interaction effects were studied. Trial was laid out in factorial RBD with nine interaction treatments and here replications. Results: Treatment combination of Arka Abedh in Blitox resulted highest plant height (97.13cm) followed by Arka Samrat in Blitox treated plot (88.42cm). Whereas, the earliness and days to first flower were observed in interaction between tomato variety Arka Abedh with Trichoderma (31.67). Yield attributes like average fruit weight was highest in Arka Samrat in Control Plot(78.42g) followed by Arka Samrat in Blitox treated Plot (78.07g), number of fruits per plant was highest in Arka Rakshak in Trichoderma treated plot(148.33) followed by Arka Samrat in Blitox Treated Plot(122.00), fruit diameter found to be bigger in Arka Abedh in Blitox treated plot (17.79cm) followed by Arka Abedh in Trichoderma treated Plot(17.16cm), and highest yield was obtained in Arka Rakshak in Trichoderma treated plot (10.96kg/plot) followed by Arka Samrat in Blitox treated plot (9.63kg/plot). Moderately late blight disease incidence was found in Arka Samrat (V1) (11.72 %). Low disease incidence was found in Arka Rakshak (V2) (3.7%) and Arka Abedh (V3) (2.47%). Correlation studies revealed that Number of leaves, Number of branches, Number of harvests, Fruit yield per plot, Average fruit weight, Fruit Diameter are positively correlated whereas Days to first harvest and Days to first flower are negatively correlated. Interpretation: The investigation highlighted the key finding on impact of late blight disease on different varieties their traits with the treatment under study in tomato and recommended the V2T2 (Arka Rakshak with Trichoderma) and V3T2 (Arka Abedh with Trichoderma) for the farming community.