Evaluation of fruit production of six Solanum spp cultivars and identification of fungal diseases

Solanum spp is one of the most produced and consumed leafy vegetables in Benin, but the fruits are little known, and little used in the daily diet.Biotic constraints hinder their production, leading to considerable loss of fruit yield.In the search for a solution to these biotic constraints, this present study, carried out in the department of Abomey Calavi, aims to evaluate the production of fruits of six (6) cultivars of Solanum spp in a real environment, and to identify fungal diseases.The experimental design used is a split-plot with three repetitions with two factors: varieties and fertilization.The production parameters were evaluated as well as the health status of the leaves and fruits.The incidence of the disease was evaluated by visual observation of symptoms in the field and the identity of the pathogens was confirmed by laboratory tests.Isolation was carried out using PDA and Agar Agar culture media.The isolates were then identified by observing pure colonies on Petri dishes and by microscopic observations of spores and mycelia.The results obtained showed that the Goyo cultivar is the best fruit yield with 1.272 t/ha, as a fertilizer chicken dropping which prove to be more effective than compost or NPK.The flowerings are grouped so the cultivars mature at the same time.Fungal diseases such as mildew, fusarium and alternaria were identified as well as pests such as snails which greatly hamper production.Conclusion: However, in-depth studies must be conducted to better understand the destructive capacities of pests and the development of appropriate control methods.