Alternaria leaf spot caused by Alternaria brassicicola (Schwein) Wiltshire is one of the most destructive disease of the cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis), causing high losses. The present investigations were taken for management of Alternaria leaf spot of cauliflower with botanicals. Result revealed that all the treatments significantly reduced the leaf spot disease incidence over control. Experiment was taken for the evaluation of efficacy of botanicals against A. brassicicola in in vitro as well as for the management of Alternaria leaf spot disease in field conditions. Six plant extracts at three concentrations viz., 5%, 10%, 20% were evaluated in In vitro conditions against A. brassicicola using poisoned food technique. Leaf extract of neem (Azadirachta indica) exhibited maximum inhibition (85.39 %) in mycelial growth followed by parthenium (79.22%). Plant extracts (10%) were applied as foliar application against the disease incidence under field conditions. Neem (Azadirachta indica) extract proved most effective in reducing the disease incidence (38.60%) followed by parthenium (Parthenium hysterophorous) (29.91%). Plant extract can play a major role in coming days for the management of plant diseases at large scale and protect the farmers from indebtedness by decreasing the cost of production.

Alternaria, Cauliflower, Disease, Botanical.

Among the tested plant extracts, Neem (Azadirachta indica) leaves extract was found most effective against A. brassicicola in in vitro conditions by inhibiting 85.39 per cent mycelial growth. Azadirachta indica leaf extract (10%) also found most effective in the management of the Alternaria leaf spot disease in field conditions by showing 38.60 per cent disease inhibition.

Kiran, Shailesh Godika, A.K. Meena, Shivam Maurya, Astha Sharma and Anil Kumar (2022). Management of Alternaria Leaf Spot of Cauliflower by using Plant Extracts. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 14(2): 540-545.