Eco-Friendly Approaches for Management of Alternaria Leaf Spot in Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.)

Abstract

Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.), also known as eggplant, is a widely cultivated and important vegetable crop across the globe. In India, it thrives particularly well in tropical and subtropical regions. However, brinjal is vulnerable to several diseases that can significantly impact its growth and yield. Common issues include damping-off, leaf spots, and Phomopsis blight. Among these, Alternaria leaf spot is especially severe and occurs frequently, often leading to major crop losses. To explore more sustainable ways to manage this disease, a field experiment was carried out during the Zaid 2023 season to evaluate the effectiveness of various plant-based leaf extracts in controlling Alternaria under real-world growing conditions. Leaf extracts viz., castor leaf extract @ 10%, neem leaf extract @ 10%, clove extract @ 10%, onion extract @ 10%, datura leaf extract @ 10% and carbendazim @ 0.1% as foliar spray (treated check), an untreated replication served as control. At desired interval of days readings were taken for growth parameters and disease intensity. On the basis of single trial at 60, 75 and 90 DAT (Days After Transplanting), it was observed that among all treatments foliar spray with neem leaf extract @ 10% (12.89%, 24.11% and 35.66%) showed the minimum disease intensity results followed by datura leaf extract @ 10% (14.07%, 25.78% and 37.35%). However, the lowest inhibition was recorded in control plot (22.56%, 38.43% and 49.19%). Subsequently the highest plant growth parameters (plant height, number of leaves and number of branches) at 30, 60 and 90 DAT (Days After Transplanting) and incremental cost benefit ratio was obtained with treatment of neem leaf extract @ 10% (14cm, 23.63cm,38.90; 13.53, 19.33, 37.38; 4.03, 8.93, 13.43; 1.46) followed by datura leaf extract @ 10% (11cm, 18.41cm,30.11cm; 9.60, 16.55, 30.55; 3.26, 8.20, 12.53; 1.39) and lowest growth parameters and cost benefit ratio was obtained with untreated control (8.23cm, 15.36cm, 25.55cm; 8.60, 15.56, 27.46; 2.40, 7.50, 11,40; 1.07).