Influence of Different Growth Supplements on Cultural Characteristics of Corynespora cassiicola Causing Target Leaf Spot Disease in Tomato

Abstract

Target leaf spot incited by Corynespora cassiicola is considered as an important emerging disease. It causes 25 to 43% crop losses in Tomato. Keeping view, the importance of the destructiveness of the disease, present study was conducted with an objective of influence of different Nutrient media, Carbon, Nitrogen, Temperature and pH on mycelial growth of C. cassiicola. Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) media were suitable for mycelia growth of C. cassiicola followed by Oat Meal Agar (OMA) and Carrot Meal Agar (CAMA). A significant difference was recorded among the growth of tested fungus for utilization of all carbon and nitrogen sources used. On 9th day of transferring the fungus culture, it was observed that maximum radial colony diameter (8.53 cm) was obtained from Dextrose containing medium and least vegetative growth (4.72 cm) was recorded on Mannitol medium. For the nitrogen source study, Potassium Nitrate projected maximum colony diameter (8.92 cm) and least radial colony diameter (2.33 cm) was obtained from Ammonium sulphate medium. The best mycelial growth of C. cassiicola was noticed at 27˚C followed by 30˚C temperature. The most suitable pH for vegetative growth of particular fungus was found at pH 7.0 followed by pH 8.0.