Preventing Early Blight in Tomatoes Caused by Alternaria

Anyone who has grown tomatoes will speak of one of the biggest challenges of battling early blight tomato diseases – the fight against early blight alternaria tomato diseases, with tomato early blight being caused by the deadly fungus, Alternaria solani. Tomato early blight is listed among the most common and dangerous diseases of tomatoes that distribute all across the world. The disease that is caused by Alternaria solani is favored by warm and moist conditions and could prove to be very destructive to your crop should it be contracted. But don’t worry – if you will apply cultural measures hand in hand with biological control, especially Trichoderma it is now possible to manage early blight in tomatoes and at the same time cut-off the use of toxic chemicals. Continue reading to know more about tomato diseases early blight treatment. In this post, you will be learning the following: What causes early blight disease in tomatoes, early blight of tomato symptoms, and how to prevent early blight tomatoes using Trichoderma bio fungicide.

Tomato Early Blight: A Review of the Disease

What causes early blight in tomatoes?

Early blight is a fungus disease of tomatoes and is typically caused by the pathogen of Alternaria solani which infects the leaves, stem and sometimes the fruit of the tomato plant. It thrives in regions that experience high humidity and low air circulation since the fungal spores can easily spread when around the cute age tomato plant. The first signs of the Early Blight of Tomato are appearances of small light brown spots on the lower stem surface as well as scarring area of the stem. Physiological recognition of early blight of tomato is the first step towards controlling it. Early blight alternaria appears as tiny, dark lesions on the underside of the leaves and these gradually grow to circular shaped lesions with concentric circles like the bull’s eye. These lesions are usually formed at the edges of the leaves and then developed downwards as the disease evolves. In the later stages of the infection, the leaves around the lesions turn yellow and drop off the plant earlier than they should. This can lead to a weaker plant that receives less sunlight and nutrients, hence lower chances of fruit production. In advanced stages of the disease, early blight can extend to the tomato fruit itself and cause disease lesions on the fruit which can in a way diminish the overall quality of the yields.

How Early Blight Spreads？

Early blight alternaria is an airborne spore that decides on the tomato plant , especially on the leaves and is most rampant during rainy weathers. It can also be passed from plant to a plant through a tool, equipment or even the soil in any garden through its spores. After infecting a tomato plant, Alternaria solani spreads quickly to the other plants nearby and thus requires tomato early blight control mechanisms. Tomato early blight affects both the quantity and quality of tomatoes and; thus, the use of measures to manage this disease should commence after the formation of the first fruit.

Expert Opinion on Microbial Control for Early Blight

Agricultural experts from university laboratory, microbial organisations have long been aware of the application of bio control agents in managing early blight tomato diseases. These mutually beneficial organisms such as Trichoderma harzianum are eco-friendly, effective and safe for use as substitutes to chemical control agents.
These beneficials act competitively with the undesirable pathogens like Alternaria solani through competing for subordinate and substratum leading to less chances of parasitic colonization. Also, by activating a plants own defence mechanism Trichoderma is also capable of preventative measures, and enables the plant to be immune to any future attack.
This research paper has also equally received support across the researcher and microbial scientists where it has been revealed and agreed that the application of Trichoderma as the early blight disease control on tomatoes reduces the disease impact.This makes Trichoderma an important factor in the combat against early blight alternaria.

Trianum V: A biological fungicide for early blight control

Introducing Trichoderma: The Natural Protector

Among all bio-fungicides, Trianum V with Trichoderma harzianum is helpful for tomato diseases early blight treatment. It is highly effective for the early blight tomato diseases. This friendly fungus has been known to fight all sorts of plant diseases ranging from Alternaria solani causing early blight in tomatoes. 

How Trichoderma works against early blight

Trianum V works by introducing Trichoderma harzianum to the tomato plant, where it provides several layers of protection:

• Competition for Resources: Trichoderma parasitize on the plant and deprives the area of nutrients and space thereby restricting the establishment of the Alternaria solani fungus.
• Antagonistic Action: Trichoderma secrets enzymes that decompose the cell wall of the pathogens and hence directly destroy it before the pathogens particularly invade and damage its host.
• Inducing Plant Immunity: Application of Trichoderma at an interval of 15 days can activate the resistance mechanisms of the plant and can develop a healthy resistance against early blight and other fungal diseases in tomato.
• Product Focus: Trichoderma foliar spray fungicide is a harmless bio fungicide that controls mold on leaves and other plant parts.

Trianum V can be used as a trichoderma foliar spray which allows the simple application on your tomato plant. When you spray Trichoderma on the leaves you are not only safeguarding the plant from early blight alternaria but also nurturing the plant in the long run. It is an environmentally friendly way to solve this problem that could potentially halve the use of chemicals for treating plants, something that every gardener and the environment will appreciate.
Despite being a strong ally in controlling early blight of tomatoes, its application eradicates early blight most effectively in conjunction with proper cultural methods that prevent the actual early blight of tomato outbreak.

Cultural Practices for Early Blight Prevention

Early blight tomato disease management begins with borrowing practices from cultures different from your own. Here are a few key cultural practices to help prevent and manage early blight alternaria:

• Crop Rotation: It’s recommended to rotate your tomato plants and non-solanaceous crops (such as beans or lettuce) as the pathogen cannot survive in periods that it is not fed on the plant sap of tomatoes.
• Proper Spacing and Pruning: It is therefore advisable to space your tomato plants adequately so that there is enough air circulation because this disease spreads through the leaves, you should remove the infected leaves frequently.
• Mulching: Use organic mulch around the tomato plant stem since the splashing of soil transfers fungal spores to the leaves.
• Watering Practices: Irrigate your tomatoes from the ground to reduce spreading of the disease since the spores of Alternaria solani are usually spread by splashing water.

The Combination of Trichoderma with Cultural Practices

Thus, integration of the Trichoderma applications along with these cultural practices can lead to a  package deal tomato early blight control against early blight in tomatoes. Here’s how to make the most of both strategies:

• Prevention: Trianum V should be applied before the onset of disease incidence and should be used as a protectant at the beginning, at the beginning of the growing season.
• Regular Applications: Late blight was found not to be a threat during the study period but in case of an outbreak the use of Trichderma should be administered every 10-14 days as long as the relative humidity is high or after rainy days.
• Synergy: Practices such as rotation and adequate spacing will control the spread of the disease while Trichoderma will inhibit pathogen establishment and limit the use of chemicals.

Sustainable Solutions for Tomato Early Blight: Trichoderma and Eco-Friendly Practices

Discovering new strategies for managing early blight is a pressing priority because of the disease’s continued threat to North American crops, but the timing of fungicide applications is another aspect of the disease that warrants more comprehensive study.
Control of tomato early blight is most effectively done through cultural measures combined with biocontrol agents such as Trichoderma. These sustainable strategies not only prevent your tomatoes from being affected by early blight alternaria but also contribute to a healthier garden soil. 
Early blight of tomato does not necessarily have to be the thorn in your side as far as your tomatoes are concerned. Early blight can be defeated when using proper crop rotation, proper irrigation systems, which can be combined by proper use of natural enemies namely Trichoderma harzianum biocontrol in combating early blight tomato diseases​ without chemicals for you to enjoy your tomato yields. This blog has mentioned tomato diseases early blight treatment. 
The wise practitioners of sustainable gardening can use Trichoderma, as well as other environmentally friendly products to cultivate healthy tomatoes, such as tomatoes throughout the season, while being more environmentally conscious. Tomato early blight is a real danger but if you apply the proper anti-early blight alternaria tools, you will have beautiful plants, full of health and vigor.