EVALUATION OF NEEM PRODUCTS AGAINST DAMPING OFF DISEASE OF TOMATO

Abstract

Tomato damping off is one of the most serious and widespread disease in Pakistan and the world, due to the harmful effects of synthetic chemicals to humans, environment and animals, this study aims to manage them. The use of plant extracts has been recognized as one of the most encouraging and safe options for eco-friendly disease management. Therefore, this study was conducted to check the efficacy of different neem products e.g. Neem seed, Neem seed coat, Neem seed without coat. Dry neem leaves, Saw dust and Bio-neem compost on the tomato seeds, by dipping for 3 and 5 minutes and then sown in steam-sterilized soil artificially infested with Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici. The maximum seed germination, root length (cm), shoot length (cm), root weight (g) and shoot weight (g) were recorded when the seeds were dipped for 5 minutes in neem seed decoction, followed by bio-neem compost and neem seed decoction for 3 and 5 minutes respectively. Seed germination and whole plant growth were reduced when untreated seeds were sown in artificially infested soil followed by seeds dipped in dried neem leaves decoction for 3 minutes and neem seed decoction (without coat) for 3 minutes. The seedling mortality was decreased as a time of posture of dipping of seeds was increased, and that was devoted to uninoculated soil. The seedling was increased as the age of tomato plants increased. The mortality was decreased after 30 days of sowing followed by 45 days of sowing, and when the seeds were treated with a decoction prepared from neem sawdust and neem seed decoctions as well as bio-neem compost, respectively. Interestingly, neem products are considered as a potential plant for controlling tomato damping off for the first time in the current study. According to the results, it can be used as a potential plant source for eco-friendly control of tomato damping off.