Damping-off of tomato caused by Pythium aphanidermatum was reduced by the application of talc based formulation of Trichoderma viride and Pseudomonas fluorescens in nursery beds before sowing. Besides reducing the pre - and post-emergence damping off these antagonists' increased the root length, shoot length and biomass production of tomato seedlings. These antagonists significantly reduced the population of P. aphanidermatum in soil.

A survey of 174 tomato farmers in five districts of Karnataka State, South India, was conducted between March and July 1998 with the objectives of assessing farmers' knowledge and perceptions of tomato leaf curl virus disease (ToLCVD) and examining their current control practices. The findings showed that farmers were familiar with ToLCVD and regarded it as a serious constraint upon production, particularly in the hot season. However, only 2% of farmers were aware that tomato leaf curl virus (ToLCV) was transmitted by a whitefly vector, Bemisia tabaci . A similarly small number of farmers knew that ToLCVD was caused by a virus, whilst 86% of farmers believed that it was caused by high temperatures. Approximately 90% of farmers relied primarily on pesticides for control of ToLCVD. Few ToLCV-resistant varieties were available but one such variety, Avinash II, was grown by 13% of farmers in the hot season when incidence of the disease is highest. Farmers visiting experimental trials at a farmer field day, showed a strong interest in new advanced breeding tomato lines with resistance to ToLCV. Factors affecting the adoption of ToLCV-resistant varieties by tomato farmers are discussed.

"An ingestion of tomato powder rich in lycopene was examined for its effect on mice with Parkinson's disease-like syndrome induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). To assess the preventive effect of tomato against the MPTP-in-duced selective destruction of dopaminergic nigrostrie, we determined striatal dopamine (DA). A 4-wk ingestion of the experimental diet containing 20% (w/w) lyophilized tomato powders before MPTP treatment prevented a decrease in the DA level. This suggests that the tomato ingestion might serve as a preventive against neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease caused by MPTP and other environmental toxins."

Soil application of Trichoderma viride and Pseudomonas fluorescens effectively controlled the pre-emergence and post-emergence damping off of tomato caused by Pythium aphanidermatum under pot culture experiments. Talc based formulation of antagonists significantly reduced the soil population of Pythium and increased the shoot length, root length and dry matter production of tomato seedlings. The individual and combined effect of these two biocontrol agents was on par with that of copper oxychloride.

The yields of three Polish cultivars were compared. The results of three-year studies showed that the increase in plant density caused a significant increase in the total, commercial and first class fruit yield in all the tomato cultivars under study. Particular cultivars of small-sized tomato differed highly significantly in their qualitative characteristics. It was found that storability and weight losses did not depend on plant spacing or cultivar but on the storage period

Two variety of tomato viz. manik and pusha rubi were used to evaluate the efficacy of antagonistic P. fluorescens in controlling wilt of tomato caused by R. solanacearum and in increasing yield in green house condition. Four treatments i.e. R. solanacearum (106 c.f.u./ml) was used as control and P. fluorescens was used as 109, 108 and 107 c.f.u./ml suspension. Manik (V1) showed least bacterial wilt incidence and pusa rubi (V2) showed highest wilt incidence at 30, 45 and 60 DAl T1 (P. fluorescens 109 c.f.u./ml) and combined effect of V1T1 decreased wilt of tomato at all stages and increased fruit yield. T0 (control-only R. solanacearum 106 c.f.u./ml) and V2T2 increased bacterial wilt at all stages and decreased fruit yield. So, T1 and V1T1 may be used for controlling bacterial wilt of tomato and increasing yield.

Systemic induced resistance (SIR) in a plant enhances disease resistance to a broad spectrum of pathogens. Under climate chamber conditions, oxalic acid's ability to elicit SIR in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) against wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici (Fol) was tested with a susceptible cultivar (Danish Export). Oxalic acid (OA) was sprayed onto the green part of the tomato plants, at concentrations 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 mM. Two days later, each plant was challenged with 10 ml of Fol suspension (106 conidia/ml) inoculated into the soil around the root system. After inoculation, disease incidence (DI) was quantified visually to assess SIR expression. OA-induced resistance (concentration-dependent) by otherwise susceptible tomato plants was obtained.

Bacterial spot of tomato, caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv vesicatoria, is one of the most widespread and damaging pathogens in Florida. Growers routinely apply from 11 to 22 bactericide applications per season to control this disease. The effect of bacterial spot on tomato yield and quality can be dramatic, with associated yield and quality limiting parameters being weakened plants, loss of photosynthesis, sun scalded fruit, and reduction in grade due to fruit infection. Due to the inherent variability of yields in tomato field plot experience and disease incidence, very few trials have been initiated to at the association of disease severity and yield reduction. Serenade® Bacillus subtilis biofungicide (QRO 137, QRO 131, 132) is a new biologically based fungicide/bactericide registered for use against bacterial spot, early blight, powdery mildew, and late blight (suppression) in tomato. This analysis clearly the economic benefit of the use of Serenade® and other bactericides in control programs in fresh market tomatoes.

Field trials were conducted at the experimental farm of the Department of Plant Pathology, H.P. Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, India, during two consecutive kharif seasons, to determine the effect of cultural practices (spacing,staking, defoliation and intercropping) on the development of Septoria leaf spot of tomato (cv. Roma) caused by S. lycopersici. A progressive increase in row spacing corresponded to a decrease in the severity of Septoria leaf spot. Row spacings of 45 and 60 cms did not differ significantly recording 57.6 and 57.8% disease incidence, respectively, after 3 weeks. The disease developed slowly in widely spaced (90 cm) tomato resulting in 28.2% disease incidence after 3 weeks. Tomato plants which were staked with the lower leaves defoliated developed less disease (35.9% after 3 weeks) compared with staked but undefoliated plants (67.2%). Similarly, defoliated but unstaked tomato also showed less disease development (57.5%) than unstaked and undefoliated plants (76.2%). Among the different crops (Phaseolus vulgaris, toria (Brassica campestris var. toria) and maize), tomato intercropped with maize, either in single or double rows, developed less disease than when intercropped with Phaseolus vulgaris or toria. Tomato alternating with single rows of the intercrops developed more disease in comparison to two rows of these crops.