Integrated Management of Leaf Spot of Aloe Vera Caused by Alternaria alternata through Chemicals and Plant Extracts

Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadenisis Miller) plant used for centuries for its medicinal, beauty, health and skin care properties. It is a xerophytic, succulent, pea-green colored plant which contains vitamins, minerals, sugar, enzymes, lignin, salicylic acid, saponins and amino acids. Leaf spot of Aloe vera caused by Alternaria alternata, is the most significant fungal infection affecting commercial Aloe vera farming. Current study was designed to investigate the effects of chemicals and botanicals against leaf spot disease of Aloe vera. For this purpose, infected plants of Aloe vera were gathered Horticultural Research Area, UAF. The fungus was isolated, purified and identified at Phytopathology Laboratory. Five fungicides and plant extracts were used with three different concentrations under completely randomized design (CRD). The outcomes of current study indicated that, among tested plant extracts, Clove inhibited maximum mycelial growth (6.53 mm) followed by Garlic (9.52 mm), Turmeric (10.42 mm), Ginger (11.52 mm) and Black pepper (13.42 mm), whereas among fungicides Tilt showed significant inhibitory effects against pathogen with minimum mycelial growth (6.60 mm), while Champion was found least effective among fungicides having maximum fungal growth (13.71 mm). Moreover, under greenhouse conditions most effective phyto-extract (Clove), chemical (Tilt) and their amalgamation were applied on inoculated aloe vera plants and found that the combination expressed most effective results against disease with least disease severity percentage (9.92%), followed by solo application of Tilt (13.82%) and clove (23.82%). It was suggested that Tilt as solo application or in combination with clove extract could be used as effective remedy to control leaf spot disease of aloe vera, however for home gardens extract of clove is highly recommended due to non-toxic effects on human health.