International Journal of Zoology Studies

Authors
Muhammad Usman Ghazanfar, Waqas Raza, Kanwer Shahzad Ahmed, Jamshaid Qamar, Naveed Haider, Muhammad Hamid Rasheed

Abstract
Early blight of tomato caused by Alternaria solani (Ellis & Martin) Sorauer is the most destructive disease that hampered its successful production all over the world. In the present study, fungi toxic activity of fungicides, namely Propineb (Antracol^® 70 WP), Thiophanate-methyl (Topsin-M^® 70 WP), Chlorothalonil (Kavach^® 75 WP), Mancozeb (Dithane^® M-45 80 WP) and Copper oxychloride (Blitox^® 50 WP) was evaluated by poisoned food technique at laboratory of Plant Pathology, University college of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Pakistan during 2013-14 for the management of early blight of tomato caused by Alternaria solani. All the tested chemicals significantly (P≤ 0.01) inhibited the mycelial growth of a pathogen when compared with control. However, among all five tested fungicides, Dithane^® M-45 80 WP (89.83%) was significantly superior over other treatments followed by Antracol^® 70 WP (87.40%), Topsin-M^® 70 WP (87.10%), and Blitox^® 50 WP (79.21%). This reduction was gradually increased by increasing the incorporated concentration. Least inhibition was observed in Kavach^® 75 WP (70.40%). Overall results demonstrated that all tested concentrations of Dithane^® M-45 80 WP were found significantly effective for controlling early blight of tomato.