Effect of Botanicals and Biological Control Agents against Anthracnose Tomato( Lycopersicum esculantum L.)

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a popular nutritious vegetable crop grown in India and other parts of the world. However, fungal diseases such as anthracnose pose significant threats to tomato production by reducing the fruit quality and food value of tomato, resulting in lower market prices of the crop globally. In the present study, the etiology of tomato anthracnose was investigated in commercial tomato farms in Marathawada, Maharashtra. A total of 22 fungal isolates were obtained from anthracnose tomato fruits and identified as Colletotrichum species, using morphological characteristics. The results of pathogenicity tests revealed that all C. coccoides isolates caused anthracnose disease symptoms on inoculated tomato fruits. To our knowledge, the present study is the first report of tomato anthracnose caused by C.coccoides in Marathwada region . The findings of this study will be helpful in disease monitoring, and the development of strategies for effective control of anthracnose on tomato fruits.