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Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Vol. 13 No. sp5 (2026): Recent Advances in Agriculture

Integrated eco-friendly and chemical strategies for managing bacterial wilt of tomato in eastern India

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.14931
Submitted
10 April 2026
Published
01-07-2026

Abstract

Tomato production is severely constrained by bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum, particularly under warm and humid conditions. Conventional chemical control methods, although effective under laboratory conditions, are often limited in field applications due to environmental hazards, the risk of resistance development and potential residue accumulation in soil and produce. Therefore, the present study evaluated eco-friendly and chemical-based management strategies under both in vitro and field conditions in Odisha. In vitro results showed that streptomycin (10 µg) exhibited the highest inhibition (11.20 mm), while the combination of streptomycin (200 ppm) and copper oxychloride (500 ppm) yielded maximum inhibition (28.5 mm) with complete suppression of the pathogen. Among biological agents, Pseudomonas fluorescens (OD11) showed the highest antagonistic activity (26.52 mm). Botanical extracts such as garlic (21.98 mm) and neem (19.77 mm) were also effective. Organic amendments, particularly karanj cake, reduced wilt incidence to 27.64 % at 90 days after transplanting (DAT), representing a 60.03 % disease reduction. Field evaluation revealed that integrated treatment significantly reduced wilt incidence (25.23 %), delayed disease onset (35.67 days) and increased yield (245.25 g plant-1) compared to the control (78.46 % wilt; 96.40 g plant-1). The study highlights that integrated disease management (IDM) practices that combine biological agents, botanicals, organic amendments and limited, judicious chemical use are more effective, sustainable and environmentally safe than sole reliance on chemicals. Adoption of IDM not only minimises ecological risks but also enhances soil health, improves plant resistance and ensures stable tomato productivity in wilt-prone regions.

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