Chapter 3

Field survey of major tomato growing areas of Karnataka to

assess Fusarium wilt disease incidence.
Chapter 3: Field survey of major tomato growing areas of Karnataka to assess Fusarium wilt disease incidence

3.1. Introduction

Tomatoes are susceptible to a large number of diseases. The diseases are region
specific, is because of the influence of climate and soil type. Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium
oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici is a very destructive disease usually killing the infected plants.
Fusarium oxysporum infects tomato plants through the rootlets, invading the xylem and
eventually extending throughout the plant. The xylem of infected plants turns brown and this
discolouration can be seen in cross sections of the stem or by peeling away the outer layers to
reveal the xylem. It can often be traced through the entire plant to shoot tips and fruits. The
xylem at first may be discoloured only on one side, but eventually the entire circle of xylem as
seen in a section becomes brown. The browning of the vascular system is characteristic of the
disease and generally can be used for its identification (Cerkauskas, 2005). Once the fungus is
established in a field, it remains indefinitely and invades susceptible plants when conditions are
suitable. Fusarium is favoured by relatively high soil temperature. In general, F.oxysporum f. sp.
lycopersici attacks plants commonly at air and soil temperatures of 24°C to 32°C or 35°C
(Agrios, 2005, Mandal et al., 2009). The fungus can spread on contaminated seed or infected
plant parts and in infested soil (Agrios, 1988).

Field survey and estimation of crop loss in field conditions is very much important in
agriculture. It can provide information about the status and location of disease and economic
loss. Spores of fungi are one of the important means of dissemination and also used in the
identification and classification of the organism. It is well established that seed-borne fungi of
tomato could survive on the infected seeds for several days. The ability of the pathogen to
survive for long time in the diseased plant parts, soil and on alternate hosts in the absence of the
main host, determines the ability of the pathogen to perpetuate. As a soil inhabitant F. oxysporum
can survive extended periods in the absence of the host, mainly in the form of thick walled
chlamydospores. Indeed, once an area becomes infected with F. oxysporum, it usually remains so
indefinitely (Agrios, 1997).

As long as the plant is alive, the vascular wilt fungus remains strictly limited to the
xylem tissues and a few surrounding cells. Only when the infected plant is killed by the disease
does the fungus invade the parenchymatous tissue and sporulate profusely on the plant surface.

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Chapter 3: Field survey of major tomato growing areas of Karnataka to assess Fusarium wilt disease incidence

F. oxysporum thus occupies a highly specific ecological niche, shared by only a few other fungal
plant pathogens such as Verticillum dahlia and Ceratocystis ulmi (Agrios, 1997).

Quality of the seeds is very much important for seed purpose as well as consumption
point of view. Seed-borne fungi reduce the seed germination, seed viability, crop yield,
nutritional and market value. Infection of seeds by fungi can have a marked negative effect on
seed and nutritional qualities. For seed producers and farmers the seed quality is very much
important. In addition to that infected seeds that germinate will produce blighted seedlings,
which also further reduce planting value of seeds. Seed-borne fungi not only reduce the quality
and quantity of fruits but also infect and transmit the disease through seeds (Ellis et al.1975,
Elarosi 1993).

In the present study field survey followed by laboratory analysis was undertaken with the
following objectives.

OBJECTIVES

 Field survey of major tomato growing areas of Karnataka to assess Fusarium wilt disease
incidence.

 Collection of infected plant material, soil and seed samples from different places of

Karnataka.

 Screening for incidence of seed mycoflora in tomato seeds.

3.2 Materials and methods

3.2.1 Field Survey

Field survey was undertaken to collect the infected plant materials, soil and seed samples
and to assess the Fusarium wilt disease incidence in major tomato growing areas of Karnataka
such as Mysore, Hassan, Kolar, Bangalore Rural, Mandya, Ramanagara, Chikkaballapur and
Chikmagalur districts and their surrounding villages and also to assess the occurrence of seed-
borne disease fusarium wilt disease incidence and crop loss.

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Chapter 3: Field survey of major tomato growing areas of Karnataka to assess Fusarium wilt disease incidence

3.2.2 Assessment of the Fusarium wilt disease in tomato field

Tomato fields were observed, and in each field, five random microplots (25 x 25m2 area) with at
least 50 plants/microplot were examined for disease symptoms. Counts were taken for the total
and diseased plants in each microplot and the mean disease incidence for each tomato field was
calculated (Hassen 1982). Data were also collected for the cultivar designation, the seed
company that has released the cultivar. Total number of fields surveyed and the area of
cultivation of tomato in different districts surveyed were generated. Diseased samples like fruits,
leaf materials, stem, soil and seed sample were collected from the field survey. The stem sections
of diseased plants were observed for the vascular discoloration or browning prior to isolation of
the target pathogen from the diseased plants.

3.2.3 Collection of infected plant and soil samples

Tomato plants with typical wilt symptoms were collected from the fields. Infected stems
were cut with the help of knife to confirm for fusarium wilt in the tomato plants. The plant and
rhizosphere soil samples were collected from at least five different parts of each field. Around
5-10 g of rhizosphere soil was collected in separate plastic covers and sealed. The samples were
brought to the laboratory, stored under proper conditions (at temperature 4o C) and were used for
the isolation of the pathogen.

3.2.4 Collection of seed samples

During field survey seed samples were collected from different agroclimatic regions of
Karnataka like Mysore, Hassan, Kolar, Bangalore Rural, Mandya, Ramanagara, Chikkaballapur
and Chikmagalur and their surrounding villages, research institutes and local seed agencies. The
collected samples were stored in polythene bags at temperature 26 + 2o C until further use.

3.2.5 Isolation of Fusarium oxysporum from infected plant and soil samples

Plant samples, root and stem tissues were washed under running tap water. Plant pieces
taken from the lower hypocotyls and upper taproot were surface sterilized in 1% NaOCl (sodium
hypo chlorite) solution for 1 to 2 min, rinsed twice in sterile distilled water and dried between
sterile filter papers. Pieces of surface disinfected tissues were plated on PDA (Potato Dextrose

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 Chapter 3: Field survey of major tomato growing areas of Karnataka to assess Fusarium wilt disease incidence

Agar). The plates were incubated at room temperature for 7-10 days for the development of
typical white mycelial growth of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici and subcultured onto
PDA slants and maintained at 4 ± 2o C according to the procedure of Norhito et al., (2004).
Soil dilution technique was used for the isolation of F. oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici from
soil (Nash and Synder, 1962). One gram of soil was suspended in 9ml of 0.1% agar suspension
instead of plain water. One ml aliquot of 0.1% agar suspension from soil dilution was poured on
petridishes containing PDA media and the suspension was spread on agar surface by rotating the
dishes. Plates were incubated at room temperature for 7-10 days for the development of typical
white mycelial growth of F. oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici and subcultured onto PDA slants and
maintained at 4 ± 2o C.

3.2.6 Determination of pe rcent incidence of seed-borne Fusarium oxysporum and other

fungal pathogens

The seeds were surface sterilized in 1% NaOCl for one to two minutes, and were
subjected to standard blotter method (SBM). Four hundred seeds of tomato were pla ted (25
seeds/plate) on wet blotters and were incubated for 7 days at 27+1o C under 12/12h alternate
cycles of near ultraviolet (NUV) and darkness (ISTA 2005). On the 8 th day of incubation, seeds
were thoroughly examined using stereobinocular microscope, and the incidence of different
fungi were recorded and tabulated. The percent incidence of seed-borne Fusarium oxysporum
and other fungal pathogens was calculated by using formula,

No. of plants showing wilting symptom

Per cent disease incidence = --------------------------------------------------- × 100
Total no. of plants

3.2.7 Mass Multiplication of F. oxysporum

Sand- corn meal medium was prepared in the proportion 95:5 in order to get maximum inoculum
of the fungus. About 400g of Sand- corn meal medium was taken in 1000ml flasks and watered
to 20 percent of its weight and sterilized. The pure culture of F. oxysporum was inoculated
separately to the flask under aseptic condition and incubated at 27±1ºC for 15 days. The flasks
were shaken on alternate days to get uniform growth. The culture so obtained was used for
preparing sick soil for further studies.

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Chapter 3: Field survey of major tomato growing areas of Karnataka to assess Fusarium wilt disease incidence

3.2.8 Pathogenecity

The isolated F.oxysporum was confirmed by observing the conidial morphology under
compound microscope. Further confirmation of the pathogen was done by pathogenecity test
under greenhouse conditions.

3.2.9 Plant material

Seeds of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cultivar ‘PKM-1’was obtained from

local seed agencies were surface-sterilized with 1% sodium hypochlorite for 30 s and then rinsed
in sterile distilled water, blot dried and used for the experiment. Seeds were planted in a steam
sterilized potting media consisting of soil:sand:farm yard manure in 3:1:1 ratio. Further sick soil
was made by inoculating F.oxysporum. f.sp. lycopersici to the sterile soil. About 50 ml of this
fungal inoculum (105 conidia/ml) was poured onto roots of three week old tomato seedlings and
observations were made regularly for the appearance and development of typical symptoms of
yellowing of lower leaves, partial wilting, complete wilting, browning of vascular tissues was
observed regularly upto 60 days after inoculation. A control treatment was maintained without
adding the inoculum. After symptom development, re- isolation was done from the artificially
infected plants. The isolate obtained was compared with the original culture for confirmation.

3.3 Results

3.3.1 Field Survey

Systemic survey for Fusarium wilt incidence was carried out in different tomato growing
districts of Karnataka such as Mysore, Mandya, Hassan, Chikmagalur, Bangalore Rural,
Ramanagara, Kolar and Chikkaballapur during Kharif season of 2006–2009 (Fig.3.1), (Table 3.1
and 3.2).

3.3.2 Assessment of Fusarium wilt disease incidence during field survey

The Fusarium wilt incidence in tomato was recorded during field survey 2006-2009. The
high incidence of disease was recorded in Kolar, Mandya and Mysore (42.2, 40, 39.2%
respectively), moderate incidence in the fields of Chickballapura, Ramanagara and Mysore
(30, 28.75, 28% respectively) and low in Bangalore rural and Chikmagalore districts (16.2,
21.7% respectively) (Table 3.3, Fig3.2). The disease symptoms appeared on all the plant parts

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 Chapter 3: Field survey of major tomato growing areas of Karnataka to assess Fusarium wilt disease incidence

like leaf, stem, petioles, calyx and fruit.

3.3.3 Incidence of different seed -borne fungal pathogens in tomato seeds on SBM

The incidence of different seed borne fungi like Alternaria alternata, A. solani,
Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, Curvularia lunata, Drechslera halodes, Fusarium moniliforme,
F. oxysporum and F. solani recorded in thirty different tomato seed samples collected during
field survey are given in the Table 3.4.

3.3.4 Percent incidence of seed-borne fungal pathogens in tomato

The percent incidence of seed borne fungi was calculated for ten susceptible seed
samples of tomato (Pusa Ruby, Rasmi, Arka Vishal, Vaishali, Madanpalli, Sultan seeds,
Mahadhan Sugam, Punjab Choara, Namdhari seeds and PKM-1,) and is given in the (Table3.3).
In tomato different fungi like Alternaria alternata, A. solani, Aspergillus flavus, A. niger,
Curvularia lunata, Drechslera halodes, Fusarium oxysporum, F. moniliforme and F.solani
recorded was 8.4%, 15.6%, 10.0%, 10.5%, 4.1%, 4.7%, 28.5%, 7.85% and 9.1% respectively.
Among all the fungi recorded F.oxysporum was expressed at very high incidence and it was 32%
in PKM-1 variety (Table 3.5).

3.3.5 Isolation of Fusarium oxysporum from infected plant and soil samples
Fungal pathogen was isolated from infected plant and soil samples as detailed in material and
methods and the identity confirmed by observing the conidial morphology under compound
microscope as F. oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici. The fungus F. oxysporum produced microconidia,
microconidia and chlamydospores. Microconidia were abundant, hyaline, continuous or 1-
septate, ovoid to ovate. Microconidia were scarce, often lacking and variable, 3 septate or rarely
4–5 septate measured 19.1 – 21.2 x 3.2 – 4.5 μm. Chlamydospores were hyaline, usually
vacuolated and spherical, measured 7 – 10 μm in diameter. The culture of fungus on potato
dextrose agar was whitish to pink coloured mycelium (Fig 3.3). Further confirmation of the
pathogen was done by pathogenecity test under greenhouse conditions. Reidentification and
confirmation of the pathogen was done from National Fungal Culture Collection of India
(NFCCI), Agharkar Research Institute, Pune.

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Chapter 3: Field survey of major tomato growing areas of Karnataka to assess Fusarium wilt disease incidence

3.3.6 Pathogenecity test

The pathogenecity test is to determine whether the suspected pathogen could cause
typical disease symptoms in the host from which it was isolated. Variation in symptoms on aerial
parts and within the stem tissues of tomato plants infected with F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici
was observed. At early stage symptoms appeared as yellowing of the lower leaves and in later
stages, drooping of the leaves was observed. In severe infection, the pith of the stem was turned
brown in colour. In severely infected plants lower leaves dried, ultimately the aerial parts of the
tomato plant showed loss of turgidity and drooped down (Fig 3.4).

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Chapter 3: Field survey of major tomato growing areas of Karnataka to assess Fusarium wilt disease incidence

Figure. 3.1. Karnataka state map showing diffe rent districts and the location of the current
studies (coloured with red, blue and green).

Field survey for the Fusarium wilt incidence in tomato was carried out for three
consecutive seasons (2006-2009).

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Chapter 3: Field survey of major tomato growing areas of Karnataka to assess Fusarium wilt disease incidence

Figure. 3.2. (i). Tomato fields infected with Fusarium wilt near, (a) Kolar,
(b) Mandya, (ii). Healthy tomato fields near, (c) Mysore, (d) Chikkaballapur.

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Chapter 3: Field survey of major tomato growing areas of Karnataka to assess Fusarium wilt disease incidence

Figure. 3.3. (a) Growth of Fusarium oxysporum on seed, (b)Pure culture of

Fusarium oxysporum on potato dextrose agar (PDA), (c) Microscopic vie w
of Macro, Microconidia and Chlamydospores, (d) Browning of vascular
tissue seen in the section of diseased stem.

(e) Isolation of Fusarium oxysporum from diseased plant parts on PDA.

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Chapter 3: Field survey of major tomato growing areas of Karnataka to assess Fusarium wilt disease incidence

Figure. 3.4. The symptomatical variation on tomato plants of 1-5 scale

studied under green house conditions during pathogenisis.

1-No symptoms.
2-Slight chlorosis, wilting or stunting of the plant.
3-Moderate chlorosis, wilting or stunting of the plant.
4-Severe chlorosis, wilting or stunting of the plant.
5-Death of the plant.

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Chapter 3: Field survey of major tomato growing areas of Karnataka to assess Fusarium wilt disease incidence

Table 3.1. Details of selected districts of Karnataka (locations) in the present study

Sl. No. Districts Soil type Area under tomato Total production
Location cultivation (tonnes)
(hectares)
1 Mysore Red sandy loam 2455 40137
2 Mandya Red sandy loam 2539 13146
3 Hassan Red sandy loam 807 10347
4 Chikmagalur Red sandy loam 2243 33824
5 Bangalore Rural Red lomy 1354 23064
6 Ramanagara, Red lomy 1550 20165
7 Kolar Red lomy & Laterite 6362 41893
8 Chikkaballapur Red lomy & Laterite 2345 35624

(Source: Ramachandra et al., 2004; DES, 2008)

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Chapter 3: Field survey of major tomato growing areas of Karnataka to assess Fusarium wilt disease incidence

Table 3.2. Tomato seed samples collected from different parts of Karnataka during field
survey.

Sl. Tomato variety Place of collection

No.
1 Arka abha Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hesaraghatta, Bangalore
2 Arka Alok Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hesaraghatta, Bangalore
3 Arka Meghli Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hesaraghatta, Bangalore
4 Arka Saurabh Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hesaraghatta, Bangalore
5 Arka Vikas Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hesaraghatta, Bangalore
6 Mahadhan Sugam Hassan local seed agency
7 Namdhari seeds Horticultural research centre, Lalbagh, Bangalore
8 Punjab choara Horticultural research centre, Lalbagh, Bangalore
9 Pusa Ruby Chikmagalur local seed agency
10 PKM-1 Mysore local seed agency
11 Rashmi Horticultural research Centre, Lalbagh, Bangalore
12 ST-22 Mysore local seed agency
13 STH 2 Mysore local seed agency
14 STH 530 Mysore local seed agency
15 Sultan seeds K.R.nagar local seed agency
16 Madanpalli Horticultural research Centre, Lalbagh, Bangalore
17 Vaishali K.R.Pet local seed agency
18 S-22 Mysore local seed agency
19 Roma Diamond K.R.Nagar local seed agency
20 Ujwala Sakaleshpur local seed agency
21 Pusa Ruby Kolar local seed agency
22 Rashmi Arsikere local seed agency
23 Rupali K.R.Pet local seed agency
24 Arka Vishal Channarayapatna local seed agency
25 Malini Kadur local seed agency
26 Ashoka Devanahalli local seed agency
27 Rasi Birur local seed agency
28 Sonali Chikkaballapura local seed agency
29 Lead beter Kanakapura local seed agency
30 Arka Authi Nagamangala local seed agency

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Chapter 3: Field survey of major tomato growing areas of Karnataka to assess Fusarium wilt disease incidence

Table 3.3 Assessment of Fusarium wilt disease incidence in tomato growing areas of
different districts of Karnataka (2006-2009).

Place and cultivar No infection 1-10% 11-25% 26-50% Above 50%

infection infection infection infection
Kolar District
Kolar 52 21 8 9 10
Bangarpet 55 14 11 11 9
Mulabagilu 65 18 7 8 2
Mallur 59 10 15 10 6
Mandya District
Nagamangala 62 18 10 2 8
K.R.Pet 56 23 9 4 8
Srirangapatna 66 11 9 5 9
Pandavapura 56 24 8 6 6
Mysore District
Jayapura 56 21 8 6 9
Bilikere 58 14 12 8 8
Nanjangud 69 9 13 3 6
Hunsur 60 10 15 11 4
Chikkaballapur District
Chikkaballapur 70 18 6 1 5
Chintamani 72 13 7 8 -
Siddalaghatta 70 16 3 5 6
Bagaepalli 68 7 11 12 2
Ramanagara District
Ramanagara 72 8 16 - 4
Anekallu 69 12 9 5 5
Magadi 70 11 9 9 1
Channpatna 74 9 8 4 5
HassanDistrict
Sakaleshpur 71 9 9 5 6
Arasikere 73 10 12 3 2
Channarayapatna 69 8 10 13 -
Bellur 75 9 8 4 4
Bangalore Rural District
Nelamagala 78 13 5 2 2
Doddaballapura 84 8 4 4 -
Anekal 85 11 - - 4
Hoskote 88 10 2 - -
Chikkmagalur District
Kadur 74 5 9 10 2
Birur 75 10 12 - 3
Chikkmagalur 80 2 8 10 -
Heeremagalore 84 12 4 - -

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Chapter 3: Field survey of major tomato growing areas of Karnataka to assess Fusarium wilt disease incidence

Table 3.4 Seed-borne fungal disease incidences in different tomato variety on SBM
(standard blotter method)

No.of Different fungi

Tomato variety diseased
seeds/400 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Arka abha 35 - 3 7 2 - - 11 5 7
Arka Alok 32 7 4 6 3 - - 8 2 2
Arka Meghli 37 7 5 4 - - - 12 8 -
Arka Saurabh 35 6 6 12 - 1 - 10 - -
Arka Vikas 36 7 5 3 3 1 - 12 11 4
Mahadhan Sugam 146 2 26 26 4 - - 48 20 20
Namdhari seeds 100 19 34 29 - - - 12 - 6
Punjab choara 120 42 38 72 - 31 - 69 - -
Pusa Ruby 116 23 - 45 13 - 4 32 12 16
PKM-1 112 - 12 - - 9 - 74 14 3
Rashmi 148 - 28 - 6 12 - 65 5 32
ST-22 12 - 5 - - 7 - - - -
STH 2 20 5 - 10 - - - - - 5
STH 530 26 - - 14 - 4 - 8 - -
Sultan seeds 32 8 - - - - - 14 11 -
Madanpalli 158 24 12 _ 4 - 17 70 _- 21
Vaishali 132 - 23 _ - 24 10 57 12 6
S-22 28 6 4 4 - - 8 6 -
Roma Diamond 80 2 12 10 - 18 - 30 - 8
Rasi 106 22 - 20 12 8 - 44 - -
Pusa Ruby 105 - 6 18 10 11 - 32 8 20
Rashmi 95 13 - 24 30 18 - - - 10
Rupali 110 25 - 16 18 8 - 18 9 16
Arka Vishal 44 4 - - - 12 6 18 4 -
Malini 88 - 12 18 15 18 - 3 22
Ashoka 88 18 - 23 - - - 27 10 10
Indosem 104 24 - - 24 16 20 12 - 8
Solar 40 - 5 - 15 10 10 - - -
Lakshmi 106 22 - 16 18 10 15 15 - 10
ArkaAuthi 90 - 18 24 20 - - 16 4 8
1. A. alternata, 2. A. solani, 3. A. flavus, 4. A .niger, 5. C. lunata, 6. D. halodes, 7. F.
oxysporum, 8. F .monoliforme, 9. F. solani.

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Chapter 3: Field survey of major tomato growing areas of Karnataka to assess Fusarium wilt disease incidence

Table 3.5. Percent incidence of seed-borne fungal pathogens in tomato seeds.

Parameter Percentage Incidence Mean ± SE

Seed samples
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Germination 65 69 73 82 79 81 76 66 62 69 72.2±2.09b
Vigour Index 410 445 470 526 509 500 492 424 405 424 460.5±11.54 a
Percentage of Seed Mycoflora
A.alternata 5 14 14 11 6 9 7 6 4 8 8.4±0.15d
A.solani 15 13 20 22 9 13 18 16 14 16 15.6±0.30cd
A.flavus 9 16 14 12 5 9 7 6 12 10 10.0±0.88cd
A.niger 4 7 13 12 10 15 10 16 9 9 10.5±0.57cd
C.lunata 8 4 0 3 6 6 3 4 3 4 4.1±0.15 d
D.halodes 5 7 8 0 6 4 5 7 0 6 4.7±0.15d
F.oxysporum 28 29 31 27 26 29 26 28 29 32 28.5±0.54 c
F.monoliforme 5 12 9 5 8 10 6 8 9 7 7.85±1.15dd
F.solani 13 10 9 11 12 4 0 10 11 12 9.1±1.73cd
(Sample No. 1. Pusa Ruby, 2. Rasmi, 3. Arka Vishal, 4. Vaishali, 5. Madanpalli, 6. Sultan seeds,
7. Mahadhan Sugam, 8. Punjab Choara, 9. Namdhari seeds, 10.PKM-1)

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 Chapter 3: Field survey of major tomato growing areas of Karnataka to assess Fusarium wilt disease incidence

3.4 Discussion

Fungal diseases of tomato lead to drastic reduction of fruit yield. In recent years, it has
assumed serious proportions in Karnataka and several complaints have been reported from the
farmers regarding the improper control of the disease by the recommended management
practices made at present. Sudarshan Rao (1975) stated that, survey and surveillance form the
basis for any successful plant protection strategy. Successful plant protection depends upon early
detection of the disease incidence followed by timely adoption and application of preventive
measures.
In the present studies the disease was found to be prevalent in all the districts. Based on
the field survey in major tomato growing areas of Karnataka it was evident that the incidence of
Fusarium wilt diseases was highly prevalent. The fusarium wilt pathogen was commonly
associated to diseased plants and seeds as well as in soil samples taken of the affected fields. The
high incidence of Fusarium wilt indicated that the Fusarium wilt is a recurrent problem in the
Karnataka state and all popular varieties appeared to be susceptible to the disease. The incidence
of the disease could in fact be higher as no attempts were made in the isolation of the pathogen
from plants without symptoms. Assessment of the presence of Fusarium wilt pathogen in plants
merely by scoring of disease symptoms often gives only a superficial picture of invasive
properties of this organism. The consequence of symptomless invasion of tomato plants by
Fusarium oxysporum is without doubt, an important means for the survival of the pathogen
resulting in the potential for infestation of soil and other plants.

Severe losses due to the disease have been observed in Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab,
Haryana and Delhi (Kapoor, 1988). Fusarium wilt had been the most devastating disease
resulting in 10 to 50% crop losses around the world (Lukyanenko, 1991). Therefore, an
investigation was carried out on various aspects of the pathogens and diseases both under
laboratory and greenhouse conditions.

Symptoms produced are varied. In the field, the characteristic symptoms of wilt observed
included stunted growth, yellowing and drooping of older leaves proceeding upwa rds, and
complete or partial wilting in some cases. Infections in young plants resulted in sudden wilting.
When the affected stems were cut open at the collar region prominent dark brown to slightly
pinkish discoloration of vascular bundles was observed in most of the cases and the most

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Chapter 3: Field survey of major tomato growing areas of Karnataka to assess Fusarium wilt disease incidence

consistently isolated predominant pathogen was found to be F. oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici. In

some plants browning was seen only in roots, such roots also exhibited slight to moderate
rottting. Pathogen associated in such cases was found to be F. solani The symptoms in
artificially inoculated plants under glass house conditions agreed with those observed in nature
(Booth, 1970)..

The disease is reported to occur more on warm sandy soil and also whenever tomato is
grown with other vegetables (Kapoor, 1988). Fusarium wilt in general, disease of warm soils
being most destructive around 28°C (Agrios, 1997). Serious losses due to wilt disease in tomato
were reported in Florida (Jones et al., 1991).

Standard blotter method to check the incidence of different seed-borne fungi in different
seed samples of tomato was carried out. In tomato different fungi like Alternaria alternata, A.
solani, Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, Curvularia lunata, Drechslera halodes, Fusarium
moniliforme, F. oxysporum and F. solani were recorded and F. oxysporum was expressed at
very high incidence (28%). Removal of externally seed borne fungi by surface sterilization
provides a chance for the seed-borne fungi to appear in greater number. There are reports that
F.oxysporum remained viable in dried pulp fragment on the surface of seeds for many years. The
isolation of F.oxysporum from greater number of seed samples after surface sterilization would
suggest that F.oxysporum was also internally seed borne. The quantitative and qualitative
variation in the incidence of seed-borne fungi can be attributed to the weather conditions like
temperature, rainfall and relative humidity. The ability of the pathogens to infect and colonize
the seed is dependent primarily on the environmental conditions like rainfall, temperature etc.
(Besri 1978; Frisullo et al., 1986).

70