Background: The post-harvest tomato fruit rot disease is common threat to the tomato fruit, causing huge economic loss as revealed by (GOP, 2018). The present study was conducted for isolatation and identification of causative agent of tomato fruit rot in order to formulate the proper management stretegies. Methods: Study was conducted in three phases. Phase one included collection of tomato fruit samples from vicinity of Tandojam. In phase two pathogens were isolated from the samples at laboratory, while in the phase three pathogens were identified using standard procedures. Result: The experimental results indicated Alternaria solani as the main cause of post-harvest tomato fruit rot. The symptoms observed were presence of brown to black rot lesions on tomato fruits with distinct rings ranging from small pin-heads to whole surface of fruit. A total of six different fungi viz., Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus niger, Alternaria solani, Geotrichum candidum, Fusarium oxysporum and Rhizopus stolonifer were found to be associated with post harvest tomato rot. Significantly higher infection was recorded for A. solani (53.667%) followed by A. niger (16.333%) and G. candidum (13.00%). The lowest infection percentage was observed for F. oxysporum (2.333%), followed by A. alternata (4.00%) and R. stolonifer (9.00%). A. solani produced aerial mycelium with yellowish to reddish diffusible pigments. A. niger cultures were typically black and colonies were initially whitish to yellow and later became brown to black in colour. G. candidum produced white and nonaerial colonies. F. oxysporum produced circular, aerial mycelium initially white, later changed to light pink. R. stolonifer produced whitish to grey fuzzy colonies.

Gram pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera Hubner is known to be a major constraint of chickpea production which causes serious economic loess. The management of this pest in any crop is always been challenge to the growers, famers and researcher. Thus, present study evaluated some promising entomopathogenic fungi for the sustainable management of H. armigera to minimize the economic loss in chickpea. Five different fungal isolates viz; Beauveria bassiana, Trichoderma virens, Trichoderma hamatum, Trichoderma koningii, and Paecilomyces sp. were used as entomopathogenic against gram pod borer, through dipping and poison food methods under laboratory conditions. The entomopathogenic potential of different fungal strains revealed significantly (P<0.05 = 0.0000) highest mortality with B. bassiana (46.67%) follo wed by T. koningi (23.33%), T. virens (11.11%) and T. hamatum (8.33%) through dipping method. In case o f poison food method significantly highest mortality was recorded with T. koningi (20%) followed by B. bassiana (6.66%) after 24 h. The mortality with B. bassiana after 96 h was become higher (41.667%) compared with other strains. No mortality was recorded with Paecilomyces sp. and control (dipped in simple water) in both methods. It is obvious that microbial control agents are very effective and the promising entomopathogenic fungi of current study are hoped would be helpful for eco-friendly and alternative to chemical pesticides for sustainable management of H. armigera in chickpea.

Tandojam is one of the main tomatoes producing city in Pakistan. Several tones of tomatoes are produced in the Tandojam each year. The main objective of the study was to estimate the intensity of tomato post-harvest rot in the vicinity of Tandjam, so curative strategies can be explored. A survey was conducted in the surrounding of Tandojam viz; Tando Allahyar, Sultanabad Vegetable Market, Tandojam city, Tando Qaiser, Bahawal Zaur, and Hyderabad Vegetable Market. A total of 20 tomato growers/farmers, 30 brokers, and 23 small shopkeepers were interviewed based on the proforma developed in the current study. The fruit rot infection among all 20 different fields ranged from 5 to 65% with 31.85% infected fruits by Alternaria. At Sultanabad and Hyderabad vegetable markets infection was ranged from 20 to 60% and 10 to 70%, respectively, with mean percentages 37 and 38.5% infected by Alternaria sp. Infection in small shops was ranged from 16.67 to 60% in Tandojam city and 16.67 to 53.33% in Tando Qaiser. The overall comparison revealed 30 percent infected fruit by Alternaria under field conditions, 36 percent at the vegetable market, and 43 percent at small shops level. Controlling tomato rots is a big challenge as the intensity of this disease is unknown in different regions. This research has significantly contributed to estimating the intensity of this disease.