Abstract
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the most important vegetable crops cultivated worldwide due to its nutritional, economic, and medicinal value. However, its production is severely constrained by early blight, a destructive disease caused by Alternaria solani. The pathogen infects leaves, stems, and fruits, resulting in substantial reductions in yield and fruit quality. Under favorable environmental conditions, particularly high humidity, moderate to high temperatures, and alternating wet and dry periods, the disease can cause yield losses ranging from 35% to 80%. The polycyclic nature of the pathogen, coupled with its ability to survive in infected crop residues and soil, makes disease management challenging in commercial tomato production systems. This review summarizes the current understanding of the biology, disease cycle, epidemiology, and environmental factors influencing the development of tomato early blight. Particular emphasis is placed on sustainable and integrated management strategies aimed at reducing dependence on synthetic fungicides. Cultural practices such as crop rotation, field sanitation, mulching, and the use of disease-free planting material play an important role in lowering pathogen inoculum and limiting disease spread. Biological control agents, including species of Trichoderma, Pseudomonas, and Bacillus, have demonstrated significant potential in suppressing pathogen growth and reducing disease severity. Likewise, botanical extracts derived from garlic, neem, datura, and other medicinal plants possess notable antifungal activity and represent environmentally compatible alternatives for disease management. Although fungicides such as mancozeb, pyraclostrobin, hexaconazole, tebuconazole, and difenoconazole remain effective against the disease, concerns regarding fungicide resistance and environmental safety necessitate their judicious use. The available evidence indicates that integrated disease management approaches combining cultural, biological, botanical, and chemical measures provide the most effective and sustainable strategy for controlling tomato early blight. Such approaches can significantly reduce yield losses, minimize environmental risks, and contribute to the long-term sustainability of tomato production