Studying the Effect of Fungicides on Tomato Plant Growth Using Richards' Function and Evolutionary Algorithms

Abstract

In the present study the efficacy of (a) fungicides (alternated): myclobutanil (Systhane 12 E, EC, 12.5% a.i. w/v, AgrEvo) at the rate of 0.4 ml l-1, penconazole (Topas 10 EC, 10% a.i. w/v, Novartis AG) at 0.15 ml l-1, triforine (Saprol 16 EC, 16% a.i. w/v, Bayer) at 1.5 ml l-1, and (b) Milsana® (VP 2000) at the rate of 1.5% (a formulated plant extract of Reynoutria sachalinensis) against powdery mildew of greenhouse tomato was investigated. The effect of treatments on disease severity on individual leaves was assessed by fitting curves on the data of the leaf blades and petioles and internodes using Richards’ function. The parameters maximum length, mean relative and absolute growth rate and the duration of elongation period of leaf blade and petiole of tomato leaves and the internodes, were also calculated using Richards’ function. Richards’ function for each individual organ was fitted using Evolutionary Algorithms