Eco-friendly Management of Alternaria Leaf Spot of Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.)

Among vegetables, brinjal or eggplant is an economically important vegetable crop and second major vegetable crop next to potato in India. This crop suffers from various diseases, among different fungal diseases of brinjal, Alternaria leaf spot caused by Alternaria alternata has currently become one of the most important diseases for all brinjal varieties. Loss due to the disease has been estimated up to 25-30 per cent. Therefore, present investigation was undertaken at Central Research Field of Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology And Sciences, Prayagraj during the Kharif of 2023-2024, for the management of leaf spot using botanicals, bio-agent, cow urine and a fungicide (treated check) for their efficacy in vivo against Alternaria leaf spot of brinjal incited by Alternaria alternata. Effects of different botanicals, bio-agent and cow urine were evaluated on different growth, disease management and yield parameters of brinjal crop under field condition by foliar spray of botanicals, cow urine and a bio-agent, along with seedling treatment with Trichoderma viride at selected concentration. The effects of treatments on growth parameter were recorded i.e. maximum plant height at 30 DAT (22.78 cm), 60 DAT (37.16 cm), 90 DAT (53.87 cm) and maximum number of leaves at 30 DAT (10.83), 60 DAT (31.80), 90 DAT (47.33) and maximum number of branches at 30 DAT (4.23), 60 DAT (11.40), 90 DAT (13.83). Among the treatments, neem leaf extract + Trichoderma viride was recorded significantly reducing disease intensity at 45 DAT (10.32%), 60 DAT (16.11%), 75 DAT (27.93%) of brinjal followed by clove extract + Trichoderma viride and Trichoderma viride + T. viride as compared to mancozeb (treated check) and control. The maximum yield was found to be in neem leaf extract + Trichoderma viride i.e. (16.63 t/ha) followed by clove extract + Trichoderma viride, and Trichoderma viride + T. viride as compared to mancozeb (treated check) and control and the most economical treatment was Neem leaf extract + Trichoderma viride i.e. (1:2.62).