INTRODUCTION Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L., syn.=lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) belongs to the family Solanaceae and it is the second most important vegetable crop next to potato and first among processing crops. Tomato is said to be the native-born of Tropical America. Among the fungal diseases of tomato crop mostly affected by early blight of tomato disease incurring loss under field and post harvest stages causing 50 to 86 percent reduction in fruit yield (Mathur and Shekhawat 1986). Every one percent increase in disease intensity can reduce yield by 1.36 per cent, and complete crop failure can occur when the disease is most severe yield loss up to 79 percent in India which is caused by Alternaria solani (Ellis and Martin 2013). Saha and Das (2012) reported losses in yield 0.75 to 0.77 tonnes/hectares with 1per cent increase in disease severity. It is common disease wherever tomatoes are grown and is one of the most destructive disease causing significant qualitative and quantitative losses at any stage of plant growth including fruit and seed production. The pathogen is also responsible for causing storage losses during transit. Disease is favored by warm temperature and extended period of leaf wetness from dew, rainfall and crowded plantation. The plants are more susceptible to infection by the disease during fruiting period (Momel and Pemezny 2006). In India, the disease is more severe during June to July sown crop than in the winter crop (Datar and Mayee 1981). MATERIAL AND METHODS Effect of micronutrients on mycelial growth of the pathogen (in vitro) The test fungus was grown on PDA in which the desired quantity of five micro nutrients was incorporated to obtain four different concentrations viz., 250, 500, 1000 and 1500 ppm. Desired quantity of chemical was mixed thoroughly in 100 ml of Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA), just before pouring in sterilized petri plates and allowed to solidity. A mycelial disc of 5 mm diameter of the pathogen taken from a 7 day old culture with the help of sterilized cork borer was then placed at the centres of the Petri plate. The inoculated Petri plates were incubated at 25 ± 1°C temperature in BOD. Three replications were maintained for each treatment. Colony diameter was measured after 7 days of inoculation. Per cent growth inhibition was calculated as per formula (Bliss, 1934). Per cent growth inhibition = Where, C = Diameter of the colony in check (average of both diagonals) T = Diameter of the colony in treatment (average of both diagonals) Management of early blight of tomato through micronutrients (in vivo). The present investigation was carried out using following different micronutrients, i.e. Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu and B. First spray was given 10 days after transplanting (DAT) and second spray at 25 DAT. Disease intensity was recorded at 60 DAT as mentioned elsewhere. Experimental layout. The experiment was laid out in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with five treatments and four replications (Fig. 1). Experimental details Number of treatments: Five Number of replications: Four Treatment Details: T1=Boron (Borax) T2=Iron (Ferrus sulphate) T3=Manganese (Manganese sulphate) T4=Copper(Copper sulphate) T5=Zinc (Zinc sulphate) RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Effect of micronutrients on mycelial growth and sporulation of pathogen (in vitro). The efficacy of five micronutrients (Table 3, Fig. 2 and Plate 1) were tested in vitro at four levels of concentrations viz., 250 ppm,500 ppm, 1000 ppm and 1500 ppm against mycelial growth and sporulation of Alternaria solani on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) by poisoned food technique. Among five micronutrients viz., Zinc (Zinc sulphate); Boron (Borax); Copper (Copper sulphate); Manganese (Manganese sulphate); Iron (Ferrussulphate), Copper sulphate (CuSO4) was found most effective in inhibiting mycelial growth (16.15, 25.38, 49.72 and 63.76%) of Alternaria solani at 250 ppm, 500 ppm, 1000 ppm and 1500 ppm, respectively followed by Zinc sulphate (ZnSO4) (14.96, 22.74, 44.33 and 59.04%) over control. Borax was found least effective in inhibiting mycelial growth of Alternaria solani over control (90.00 mm). All the concentrations (250 ppm, 500 ppm, 1000 ppmand 1500 ppm) of Copper sulphate were found significantly superior over other treatments. As we consider the results regarding with sporulation of pathogen Copper sulphate (CuSO4) which was most effective in inhibiting mycelial growth of the pathogen exhibited very poor sporulation (+) followed by Zinc sulphate (ZnSO4) poor sporulation under in vitro condition which showed poor sporulation (++). Borax that was least effective in inhibiting mycelial growth of the pathogen exhibited better sporulation (+++++) as compared to control in which excellent sporulation (++++++++) was occurred. Five micronutrients Zinc (Zinc sulphate); Boron (Borax); Copper(Copper sulphate); Manganese (Manganese sulphate); Iron (Ferrus sulphate) were tested at 250 ppm, 500 ppm, 1000 ppm and 1500 ppm concentrations by poisoned food technique to inhibit the mycelial growth of A. solani under in vitro conditions. Copper sulphate (38.75%) gave maximum inhibition of mycelial growth at each concentration followed by Zinc sulphate (35.26%). Similar work done by Shoaib et al. (2015) against phytopathogenic Leaf spot by Alternaria alternata. They assessed different doses of Copper metal in vitro in terms of growth and physiology. Amongst nitrate, chloride and sulphates salts of Copper, the maximum inhibition in radial growth of the fungus was observed with increase concentrations of Copper salts in order of: CuSO4> CuNO3>CuCl2. Kumar et al. (2015) observed K2SO4(1000ppm) showed maximum inhibition of mycelia growth (64.28%) of Alternaria brassicae in comparison to check followed by ZnSO4 (1000ppm) (63.88%) in their studies of effect of eco-friendly chemicals on Alternaria blight disease of mustard. Management of early blight of tomato through micronutrients (in vivo). Effect of five micronutrients viz., Zinc (Zinc sulphate); Boron (Borax); Copper (Copper sulphate); Manganese (Manganese sulphate); Iron (Ferrus sulphate), were studied against Early blight of tomato under pots conditions through two foliar sprays (10 DAT and 25 DAT) at 0.5 % concentration. Results presented in Table 4 and Fig. 3 revealed that minimum disease intensity was observed with Copper sulphate (CuSO4) (30.26%) followed by Zinc sulphate (ZnSO4) (32.58%) as compared to control (60.32%). Maximum reduction in disease over control (per cent disease control) was observed with Copper sulphate (CuSO4) (49.83%) followed by Zinc sulphate (ZnSO4) (45.98%). Per cent disease intensity with Borax (48.37%) was found statistically at par with Manganese sulphate (MnSO4) (43.1%). Minimum reduction in disease (per cent disease control) was observed with Borax (19.81%). Five micronutrients were used in vivo conditions through foliar spray applications (0.5%) in a pot experiment. Among these, all micronutrients were able to reduce disease intensity significantly over control. In pot condition minimum disease intensity (30.26%) was recorded with Copper sulphate followed by Zinc sulphate (32.58%). Similar work done by Kumar et al. (2015) Alternaria brassicae causing Alternaria blight of Indian mustard. They reported significantly minimum disease index on leaf or check by foliar spray with 0.5% CaSO4 (23.58%) followed by 1.5% CaSO4 (24.00%). Rathi et al. (2015) evaluated role of soil application of micronutrients in defense to white rust and Alternaria blight in Indian mustard. They found minimum disease severity of both White rust (31.3%) and Alternaria blight (26.03%). when ZnSO4 @15 kg/ha + borax @ 10 kg/ha+ gypsum @250kg/ha applied as basal dose.