Tomato Fungicides or Bactericides

On the basis of method of use the fungicides or bactericides they can be grouped in the following categories.

Following are the diseases of tomato, which control by following methods of fungicide application:-

Disease	Fungicide	Method of application
Bacterial fruit spot	Streptocycline (100PPm) or copper fungicides	Spraying
Tomato leaf curl	Disease is transmitted by whitefly hence to check the whitefly population use insecticides fuadan or disyston @1kg ai/ha.	Soil application treating the nursery beds with granular insecticides.
Tomato big bud	Metasystox (0.02%) or nuvacron (0.05%) at ten days intervals to control the insect vector (leaf hopper) population.	Spraying
Early blight	Mancozeb @ 0.2%	Foliar spray
Late blight	Mancozeb @ 0.2%	Foliar spray
Septoria leaf spot	Mancozeb @2 g/kg.0.2% Dithane Z-78	Seed treatment /Foliar spraying
Leaf mould/black mould	Mancozeb @ 0.2%	Foliar spray
Wilt	0.1% carbendazim or benomyl	Soil drenching
Powdery mildew	Dinocap at 0.1% or Wet sulphur at 0.2%	Spraying

Examine and note the following information of each available fungicide, bactericide and antibiotics.

General

•	Select the suitable fungicide/bactericide or antibiotic to be sprayed against the specific disease.
•	Weigh the fungicide as per the schedule of plant protection.
•	If spray fungicide is required, mixes in little water (about one litre) first and make up to the desired volume.
•	If dusting is to be done, it should be done in the morning or evening.
•	Dusting should be done in the direction of wind.
•	Do not harvest crops (especially vegetables) until the waiting period for the fungicides has passed.

While buying fungicides

•	Before buying fungicides answer the following questions:-
•	Which disease is to be controlled?
•	Buy fungicides from a reputable and reliable licensed store.
•	Do not buy in bulk, buy only as much as you expect to use within a short period.
•	Buy only fungicides in their original package with proper labelling.
•	Buy only fungicides with the ISI mark. This shows that, the fungicide conforms to the standards laid down by the bureau of Indian standards.
•	Do not buy banned, restricted or highly toxic fungicides.
•	Use only the recommended fungicide for the problem. If several fungicides are recommended, choose the least toxic fungicide to mammals and if possible the least persistant

While transporting fungicides

•	Do not transport fungicides together with food products, fodder or other commodities.
•	Make sure that fungicides are adequately packaged and do not spill or leak out.
•	If the fungicide spills or leaks, wash the vehicle that has been used for transporting the fungicides. For this apply bleaching lime paste (1kg lime for every 4 litres of water) and wash it off with water twice or thrice within an hour after its spillage. If the fungicides spill on to the clothing wash it thoroughly.

In the storage of fungicides

•	Do not keep fungicides in the kitchen or living room. Keep them away from food, animal feed and fodder, and containers of potable water.
•	Be careful of cross-contamination. Store herbicides separately from other kinds of fungicides.
•	Reseal containers after partial use.

Before application

•	Read the label and the instruction carefully before opening the fungicide packet (or) bottle.
•	Make sure that the appropriate protective clothing is available.
•	Check that plenty of water is available with soap and towel.
•	Check application equipment for leaks, calibrate with water and ensure that it is in proper working order.
•	Take only sufficient fungicide for the day’s application from the store to the site of application.

While mixing, fungicides and during application

•	Always use a long wooden stick for mixing fungicides in water.
•	Never blow out clogged nozzles or hose with mouth. Use a fine wire or pin.
•	Spray early in the morning or in the evening suspend spraying during mid day in summer months.
•	Avoid application of fungicides on rainy or cloudy days.
•	Check the wind direction before starting to spray. Start spraying at the downwind edge of the field, and move upwind so you are always moving into the unsprayed area. Always move along the wind while spraying and dusting so that the spray or dust is directed by air current away from you. Do not spray in strong winds.
•	Never eat, drink, or smoke while mixing or applying fungicides.

After application

•	Return unused fungicide to the store. Never leave fungicides unattended in the field.
•	Safely dispose all empty fungicide containers by burning or burying them in the field.
•	If containers are burnt, don’t stand in the smoke.
•	Do not use them to store food, water or as cooking utensils.
•	All the protective clothing must be washed immediately after spraying. Wash them separately from other clothes.
•	Never leave fungicides in sprayers or dusters. Clean equipments with soap, detergent or soda solution and fresh water. Rinse with fresh water once or twice before returning the equipment to store room.
•	Keep the record of the use of fungicides.

Advantages	Disadvantages
Quick and reliable control measure of diseases.	If not carefully used becomes harmful. It causes harmful effect if not carefully handled during transport/spraying/storage and at the time of disposal are containers.
Available in various formulations viz. Powder, granular form.	Sometimes wrong fungicides used by illiterate people and also in excess dosage, and wrong method of application.
Used as seed treatments/soil application/Foliar spraying.	Leave residues on crop.
	For individual farmer it is not affordable due to high price and it is not required in bulk.