Effectiveness of Aqueous, Alcoholic Extracts and Fertilizing of Jatropha curcas Leaves in the Control of Blossom end Rot of Fruit in Tomato

Abstract

The blossom end rot of fruit caused by calcium deficiency causes extensive damage going up to more than 50% of yield loss in tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.). The present study was carried out in a greenhouse in a semi-controlled environment to evaluate the effect of aqueous and alcoholic extracts and fertilizing with the powder of the leaves of Jatropha curcas on the growth parameters, the vigor of the plants, the size of the fruit, the rate of blossom end rot fruit, the yield and the accumulation of biomass Cobra 26 and Lindo varieties of tomato. The experimental system was a complete randomized block with 14 treatments repeated 3 times. Control plants were treated with tap water. Estimates of height, annulus diameter, fruit load, fruit size, blossom end rot fruit rate, yield as well as fresh and dry biomass were made. The aqueous extract at a concentration of 2 L/ha had the best vegetative development compared to all the treatments. As for the 3% alcoholic extract, it was the best in reducing the rate of blossom end rot fruits without any loss of yield and in accumulating fresh and dry aerial and root biomass. These results showed that the use of aqueous extracts, alcoholic extracts and the fertilizing with the powder of leaves of Jatropha curcas in the control of the blossom end rot of the tomato makes it possible to reduce efficiently the rate of blossom end rot fruits and the losses of yield.