To start, I will give the various sicknesses that are likely to affect tomato plants. In this article, disease management of tomatoes will be discussed so that gardeners or farmers will understand how to prevent or deal with these diseases.
Early Blight
Another typical problem of tomatoes is early blight which it is affected by the fungus known as Alternaria solani. This disease first manifests itself on the lower leaves of the plant as black circular shaped spots with what appears to be circles within the circle, after which the affected leaves acquire a yellow look and will soon drop off. Late blight is likely to increase rapidly in warm and moist weather, thus, the plants should be closely observed.
To manage early blight in your tomato plants, try the following methods:
- Prune: As soon as you observe signs of the disease, it is advisable to trim off the affected leaves so that the illness does not spread to the other leaves.
- Mulch: I recommend surrounding the plant’s base with mulch to minimize the likelihood of the fungal spores being transferred from the soil to the leaves.
- Water at the base: Do not water the plant from above as this dew can cause the fungus to grow on the foliage.
- Apply fungicides: A fungicide effective for early blight should be applied to your plants or during high humidity.
Another measure that should be taken when managing the garden is to maintain good garden hygiene by eradicating any debris within the vicinity of the plants and adopting crop rotation every year to minimize the chances of early blight reoccurring in the same area. Therefore, by paying attention as well as applying preventive measures that have been highlighted in this article, early blight’s detrimental effects on your tomatoes can be avoided and you can look forward to a healthier yield.
Late Blight
The last is called late blight and it is a dangerous disease that impacts tomatoes to a significant degree if the problem is not solved in an appropriate manner. This disease originates from a fungus known as Phytophthora infestans that has the obility to affect areas with cool and wet conditions. Here are some key points to know about late blight:Here are some key points to know about late blight:
- Identification: The disease known as late blight is characterized by dying leaves that are black or gray in color, being water-soaked, developing on the undersides of the foliage; dark, round and water-soaked regions on the stems; and either watery or measly, light colored, and water soaked patches on the tomatoes. These lesions can be large and progress rapidly within a short time so that they can cause defoliation of plants.
- Spread: Erythema Infectiosum is contracted easily through respiratory transmission, especially in wet environments with relatively high temperatures. It can also be picked up and carried along large distances in the wind, supporting the fast spread of the virus.
- Management: In order to deal with this disaster, tilling is recommended where by infected plants should be uprooted and burned so as to avoid spreading the disease. Also, while using fungicides, it should be done in advance, in order to avoid damaging healthy plants by spreading the fungis on them.
- Prevention: To avoid late blight, it is advisable to increase the space between plants that are growing tomatoes to allow proper air circulation. Do not water overhead, since, this keeps the leaves wet, and this provides the necessary moisture for the fungus to grow.
Bacterial wilt is not good news for tomatoes because it can ravage a crop if not controlled on time. Thus, people who grow plants should always remain wary of this disease, learn how to deal with infected plants, and use preventive measures to avoid this fungus infecting more gardens.
Fusarium Wilt
Fusarium wilt is a threatening disease that affects tomato plants with the fungus Fusarium oxysporum. There are characteristics or signs that help me easily diagnose this disease, these are the yellowing and wilting of the lower leaves of my tomato plants and stunted growth. During the development of the disease, I observe that the stems develop brown spots and could further develop brown straes on the entirety of the plant and may also dry up in the process.
Symptoms of Fusarium Wilt:
- The yellowing and wilting of lower leaves
- Stunted growth
- Brown streaks on stems
- The water supply dwindles and finally the plant reaches its end.
Management of Fusarium Wilt:
- Plant Resistant Varieties: I grow and introduce new tomato varieties which are resistant to Fusarium wilt.
- Crop Rotation: To overcome this problem, I always change my crops’ cycles to reduce the chances of build-up of the fungus in the garden.
- Soil Solarization: I prepare the site for growing by ‘solarizing’ the soil which involves covering it with plastic to eliminate the fungus.
- Fungicide Application: In the latter, I use fungicides recommended by the manufacturer to treat the disease depending on severity.
Fusarium wilt is one of the sheer diseases in managing but with effort and accurate control measures, I can reduce its effect on my tomato plants.
Verticillium Wilt
Tomato plant is one among the many plants which are affected by Verticillium wilt, I have observed this. This fungal disease can persist in the soil for as long as five years and is always inclined to affect the tomato plants that have vulnerable varieties. In effect when my plants where infected they withered starting with leaves at the base of the plant and then progressing further up the stem. Eventually the leaves would turn yellow and wilt if the condition was not tempered which would lead to plant death if severe.
Another method I used to control verticillium wilt was by growing only those tomatoes that can resist the disease. These are the varieties which have been developed to resist the money fungus and they are capable of salvaging your production. Further, tomato rotation around the garden to avoid planting on the same area times of the year assisted reduce the accumulation of the fungus in the soil.
To ensure the bacteria does not spread within the garden areas, I had to ensure my gardening utensils were cleaned after using them on infected regions.
Weeding was also conducted regularly to ensure that my tomato plants remained healthy by eradicating any potential source of the fungal disease such as Verticillium wilt which is known to affect tomato plants and thrives in warm and humid conditions. In case of overall watering, it should not be done in a manner that causes drops as this spreads the spores across a wide area. To prevent the growth of fungi and other plant diseases, I allow the leaves of plants to remain dry by watering at the root base.
During the time when I saw that some of the tomatoes had Verticillium wilt, I did not hesitate. I also regularly collected and disposed of all the plants that had developed the disease to minimize the transmission of the disease to healthy plants. Nevertheless, prevention of Verticillium wilt and detection at an early stage is rather important in managing the disease in tomatoes.
Septoria Leaf Spot
Septoria leaf spot is a typical fungal disease of tomatoes that the farmer can easily encounter. Frankly, there is a certain disease that causes black spots on the leaves of beans, and I can easily identify it. These spots begin as tiny spherical shaped structures that are grey in the interior with black margins. As time goes by, they increase further in size and the central areas develop white or light brown coloration. When I look for these rounds or irregular brown patches on the leaves of my tomato plant, it means it is Septoria leaf spot.
Symptoms:
- Dark spots on leaves
- MPhysically, these species has got centers which are grayish in color, but have edges dark in color.
- Enlargement of spots
- White or light-brown centers
Treatment and Prevention:
For controlling of Septoria leaf spot I have discovered that it is effective to try to pull out the affected leaves so as to prevent the disease from spreading. Before tending to the plants, I check the conditions they grow in and Water my plants using the base and not the leaves. To control or prevent the growth of this fungal disease there is need to ensure proper air flow around the plants. Another fungicides application that would be helpful for me is spraying early in the season with an aim of preventing Septoria leaf spot on my tomato plants.
Nevertheless, it should be noted that diagnosis and correction of this disease during its initial stages are of paramount importance when it comes to dealing with Septoria leaf spot. Thus, paying attention to the signs of this disease on my tomato plants and following the preventive measures I have listed, the disease-less (but maybe flawed) tomato plants will be maintained.
Blossom End Rot
Blossom-end rot is a typical disease affecting tomato plants and it expressing itself through the dark, leathery, sunken lesion at the blossom-end of the fruit. This condition is not due to a fungal or bacterial infection but is precipitated by the lack of adequate levels of calcium in the plant. From the above explanation, it can be seen that when the fruits are in their developing stages, if there is insufficient calcium to be utilized, then it results in the rotting of the fruit.
To prevent blossom end rot, there are a few key steps I always follow:
- Consistent watering: Watering the plant in an irregular manner can also be an effective way of disrupting the root’s capability of absorbing calcium. Regarding the care of my tomato plants, one aspect is to give them water on regular basis and in sufficient quantities for their root systems to develop.
- Proper soil preparation: Depending on the type of plant to be grown, usually before planting, I mix the soil with calcium materials such as gypsum or lime to support calcium needs of the plant.
- Mulching: Mowing around the base of the plants can curb the variations in the moisture of the soils in the plants, a problem that hinders the uptake of calcium.
- Avoid excessive nitrogen: When the concentration of nitrogen is high, the uptake of calcium falls short of what is required by the plants. To preclude this kind of imbalance, I aim at using fertilizers that are balanced in their nature.
- Maintain proper pH levels: Tomatoes need slightly acidic soil conditions especially when the plants are young and undertaking rapid growth and at the same time undergoing calcium absorption. I make it a point to test my soil on the regular and readjust the pH whenever it is required.
Unfortunately, blossom end rot is inevitable; however, by closely monitoring these aspects and implementing appropriate measures, I can avoid the occurrence of the disease on my tomato plants. It is simply a case of the yeas giving the right environment conducive for growth and development of fruits.
Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus
Tomato yellow leaf curl virus, often referred to as TYLCV is a viral disease that plagues tomato plants and drastically reduces yields. I have to be alert on this disease because it is spread by the whiteflies, insects that feed on the sap of tomato plants, and incidentally pass the virus from plant to another.
Symptoms:
- Leaf Curl: A more distinct sign of this is the curling of the tomato plant leaves.
- Yellowing: The symptom that people might recognize is that the leaves of the plant turn yellow and the growth of the plant is restricted.
- Fruit Deformities: Fruit may appear to be irregular in form, be reduced in size or have yellow marbling.
- Leaf Thickening: They may become thick or leathery to allow the plant to return water to the environment before nightfall.
- Reduced Yield: It affects the productivity of a plant by greatly minimising the production of fruits.
Prevention and Control:
- Resistant Varieties: Some methods recommended for controlling TYLCV are as follows: The use of resistant varieties; farmers should plant tomatoes from seeds that have been developed to be resistant to TYLCV.
- Whitefly Control: It is also important to control the whiteflies because they transmit the virus as the whiteflies can be controlled with insecticidal soaps or oils.
- Sanitation: Disposing of or burning affected plants and stem rapidly will help to avoid extension of the virus.
- Crop Rotation: Another technique is crop rotation, where solanaceous crops are rotated with crops outside this family to prevent build-up of the disease.
This is why I have to keep vigil to check on my tomato plants for indications of the TYLCV to ensure that it does not spread and control the detrimental impact of the virus on my production of tomatoes.
Bacterial Speck
One of the most widespread diseases affecting tomatoes is called bacterial speck and is resulted from the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae. Here are some key points about this disease:
- Symptoms: Experimental: Bacterial speck symptoms usually manifest as round, dark, and compact lesions with an elevated nature on different parts of tomato plants, including leaves, stems, and fruit.
- Spread: This disease can spread quickly in warm and hostile environment, which include high temperatures and high humidity through splashing of water.
- Management: By managing bacterial speck as follows I suggest:
- Plant resistant varieties: Select tomato types that are resistant to bacterial speck so that the crop does not attract the disease causing bacteria.
- Proper spacing: Arrange the plants at the recommended space to help allow proper air to circulate and lower the humidity amounts of the plant.
- Watering: Water the plants from the base and not from the aerial parts for the above reasons leads to the development of the disease.
- Sanitation: The following measures should be adopted to control the disease: Any plant debris that is infected should be removed and disposed of as this will help to avoid spreading of the disease.
- Chemical control: Nonetheless, in the worst circumstances, copper-based fungicides may be applied for treating bacterial speck but it should be done under the right measures that has been outlined.
With these management strategies on the management of bacterial speck in tomato plants, I will be in a better position to valid the control of the disease.
Powdery Mildew
Tomato powdery mildew is also a pathogen I have an extensive experience in dealing with when growing tomatoes at home. This fungal disease causes powdery mildew in the form of a whitish substance on leaves, stems and fruits of the tomato plants. It causes rain disease but can also develop when there is no rain which is why it be referred to as the dry weather fungus.
Symptoms of Powdery Mildew:
- Powdery Mildew – This appears as white powdery substance on the leaves of plants and is caused by the fungus called Erysiphe cichoracearum.
- Distortions which are commonly referred to as curling involve the bending of leaves along an axis so that one of the edges is curved up while the other edge remains flat.
- Stunted growth
- Reduced fruit production
Management of Powdery Mildew:
- Prune: Another technique is to trim the affected plants by removing the contaminated leaves and stems to reduce the spread of the disease.
- Improve air circulation: The level of humidity should be also minimised to grow tomatoes, so the plants should be placed in an area where there is fresh air.
- Avoid overhead watering: Make sure the leaves remain dry, water the plant at the root.
- Apply fungicides: Powdery mildew should be controlled with sulfur-based fungicides or neem oil as a type of fungicide.
- Choose resistant varieties: Before planting tomatoes it is wise to introduce tomatoes that are resistant to powdery mildew.
The following management strategies have proven effective in my attempt to control powdery mildew in tomatoes and to spare extensive crop damage.
