Optimizing Crop Geometry and Intercropping for Management of Tomato Leaf Curl Disease

Aims: The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of various treatments of crop geometry and intercropping strategies in managing tomato leaf curl virus (ToLCV) disease on tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) and promote sustainable farming through eco-friendly management approach. Study Design: Factorial Randomised Block Design with nine treatments with three replications including control. Place and Duration of Study: Biswanath Chariali, Assam, India (2022-2023). Methodology: Hybrid tomato cultivar “Swaraksha” was used to evaluate the treatments, including raisingof seedling in insect-proof condition, intercropping and crop geometry. Disease incidence and vector population were recorded at intervals of 15 days from 30 to 75 days after transplanting. Statistical tests; viz., t-tests, ANOVA, correlation analysis between disease incidence and yieldwere performed to analyse the treatment effects. Results: Treatment T7 (wider spacing with garlic as an intercrop) showed no disease symptoms and had low vector population averaged to 0-1.50 numbers per leaf followed by treatment T8 (wider spacing with marigold) with mild disease symptoms and low vector populations of 0-2.33 numbers per leaf. The regression analysis revealed a coefficient of 0.83 between whitefly population and ToLCV disease incidence. Correlation analysis demonstrated a strong positive relationship between disease incidence and whitefly population, with a correlation coefficient of 0.96. Conclusion: Based on the findings, intercropping with garlic could be an efficient strategy for tomato growers. Garlic intercropping effectively reduced whitefly populations reducing transmission of tomato leaf curl virus, resulting in no disease incidence. This practice could be an efficient strategy for disease management with increased productivity. Future studies could explore the long-term impacts of these practices on soil health and sustainability. Additionally, evaluating other potential intercrops and their effects on disease and vector management might provide further insights.