ABSTRACT
Production in India is limited by losses caused by insect pests and diseases to the extent that the per capita consumption of vegetables is only 25–33% of the minimum daily requirement. The major obstacle in the successful harvesting of tomato is disease incidences. Late blight is an extremely destructive disease of tomato. It can infect and destroy the tomato plants at any stage of development and is capable of rapid spread resulting in the complete destruction of these crops. The disease appears on tomato leaves as pale green, water-soaked spots, often beginning at leaf tips or edges and spread downward and inward depending upon the weather. The circular or irregular purplish leaf lesions are often surrounded by a pale green border that merges with healthy tissues. Blossom drop and spotting of fruit, along with loss of young fruit, may occur when early blight attacks tomatoes at the flowering stage.
