INDUCTION OF RESISTANCE IN TOMATO PLANTS AGAINST TOMATO LEAF CURL VIRUS BY USING BIOCHAR AND SEED PRIMING

Abstract

The experiment was conducted to check the effects of biochar and different priming agents on whitefly transmitted tomato leaf curl virus. Biochar was applied to potting mixture at 1%, 2% and 3% concentration. In order to check the effects of priming, tomato seedlings were primed with NaCl, glycerine and distilled water at three concentrations. After biochar application 22.43% disease severity was recorded that was significantly lower than control (40.12%). In graft inoculated plants, disease severity was in 15.32% while in control 50.23% disease severity was recorded. From primed seedling NaCl and glycerine shows good results then distilled water. In case of biochar, disease reduction was more at higher concentration (3%) than other two concentrations. Priming gave better results in case of whitefly inoculation.