Impact of Inoculation Techniques in Development of Alternaria Fruit Rot (Alternaria alternata) of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

The causal organism Alternaria alternata is seed, soil and air borne inhabiting and responsible for Alternaria fruit rot of tomato, there by incurring yield losses under suitable environment causing losses up to 79% in fruit yield. Several inoculation techniques were tested, including stem-end, cork wounding, stylar end pricking, rubbing, and pink pricking on the epicarp and without injury with Alternaria alternata on tomato fruit. At the four and eight day mark following inoculation, the severity and incidence of the disease were recorded. The highest severity of tomato Alternaria fruit rot (21.00%) was observed on the fourth day following inoculation using the stem-end approach. This was followed by cork injury on the epicarp (15.25%). The least effective methods for generating Alternaria fruit rot infection were determined to be the rubbing method (13.00%), styler end (12.50%), and pink prick (2.13%). On the eighth day following the inoculation, similar patterns were seen. The stem end method showed the highest severity of Alternaria fruit rot (50.00%), followed by cork injury on the epicarp (39.25%). The least effective methods for generating Alternaria fruit rot infection were determined to be the rubbing method (26.50%) and the pin-prick method (6.25%).