FUNGI COLONIZING DIFFERENT PARTS OF TOMATO PLANT (LYCOPERSICON LYCOPERSICUM (L.) KARST. IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

Tomato is vulnerable to attack by different fungal pathogens which are borne by soil, air and seed, and inflict colossal losses in production. Mycoflora associated with different parts of tomato plant was exclusively investigated for the first time in Pakistan. In all, 25 fungal species belonging to 16 genera were variably recovered and identified. Fungal species detected from leaves (Alternaria alternata, A. solani, Phytophthora  infestans, Septoria  lycopercisi), from fruits(Colletotrichum coccodes, Alternaria alternata, A. solani, Phytophthora infestans, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici, Botrytis cineria, F. solani, Rhizoctonia solani, Aspergillus sp, Rhizopus stolonifer) and from roots were (Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici, F. solani, Rhizoctonia solani, Verticillium albo-atrum)and some non-sporulating fungi. Seed-borne fungi were: Curvularia lunata, Drecshlera australiensis, Alternaria tenuissima, Chaetomium globosum, Penicillium digitatum, Rhizopus stolonifer and species of Fusarium (F. solani, F. moniliformae and F. oxysporum  f.sp lycopersici), Aspergillus (A. flavus, A. terreus, A. fumigates, A. niger and A. sulphureus), Mucor and Cladosporium spp. Alternaria solani predominantly occurred on leaves and fruits (19%, 15.75%), respectively, whereas Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici was isolated from roots to an extent of 17.50%. In case of seed-borne fungi, blotter method yielded more number of mycoflora with higher frequency over agar plate method. Fusarium solani and Alternaria alternata; the two main fungi accounted for high frequency of 15% and 11.20% in blotter test and 10.60% and 7.40% in agar plate method. Rhizopus stolonifer appeared in least frequency of 2.50% on tomato fruits and 1.35% on seeds of tomato. The pathogenic behaviors of all the fungal isolates were confirmed after multiplication of important pathogens and then under artificial conditions of inoculation on test plants. The study will help farmers of Southern Punjab, Pakistan to focus on appropriate management of emerging and recurrent fungal diseases of tomato.