Introduction TOMCAST forecasting system for chemical control of tomato early blight disease

Early blight is an important worldwide disease of tomato that farmers must have frequent spray chemicals to control it. One way to reduce the use of pesticides, costs of production and the risk of environmental pollution, spraying based on forecasting of TOMCAST system, which is based on the time of wet leaves and temperature during tomato growing season in each region, predict disease severity, and determine suitable time of spraying. Application this system, in some countries considerably reduced pesticides usage on tomato. This system predict time of spraying when needed and has maximum effect. By using this forecasting method in Iran, can reduce pesticides usage on this freshly consume fruit, efficiency of using pesticides, and increase yield.