EFFECT OF DIFFERENT MULCHES ON THE INCIDENCE OF TOMATO LEAF CURL VIRUS AND ITS VECTOR WHITEFLY BEMISIA TABACI IN TOMATO

Two field trials were conducted at the Seed Research and Technology Centre, Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India, during the summer seasons of 2008 and 2009 with tomato hybrid ‘Lakshmi’. Six different mulches viz., white polythene sheet mulch, black polythene sheet mulch, UV reflective mulch, paddy straw mulch, saw dust mulch and paddy husk mulch were evaluated along with the control plot maintained with bare soil without any mulch.
The temperature and relative humidity of each mulch was recorded daily with the help of a handy pocket weather tracker.
The effect of microclimate of different mulches was correlated with whitefly population and tomato leaf curl virus disease.
Correlation studies revealed highly significant positive correlation between ToLCV incidence and mulch temperatures while it was non-significant with RH (%). Among the different mulches, UV reflective mulch and paddy husk mulch were proven as the superior treatments in bringing down the disease incidence and also increasing the total marketable fruit yield.
Hence, these cultural methods when combined with other management practices help in containing the disease through vector control.

III International Symposium on Tomato Diseases

M. Rajasri, K. Vijaya lakshmi, R.D.V.J. Prasada Rao, K. Loka Reddy

whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, Tomato leaf curl virus, UV reflective mulch, paddy straw much, tomato

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2011.914.39