#EARLY BLIGHT TOMATO FREE#

The fungus spends the winter in infected plant debris or in the soil where it can survive at least one and perhaps several years. Leaf Blight begins on lower older leaves and works upward leaves wither, die and fall off. Symptoms occur on leaves where circular lesions to ½” in diameter are produced within these lesions dark concentric circles can be seen. Infections are most prevalent on poorly nourished or otherwise stressed plants. Fruit from defoliated plants are also subject to sunscald.Īlternaria sporulates best at about 80 degrees when abundant moisture is present. Early Blight causes infection of fruit and loss of plant vigor. Alternaria Solanica is perhaps the most common foliar disease of tomatoes. The yellow leaves with brown patches are caused by a fungal disease called Early Blight.

Several of our customers have brought in samples of their lower leaves of their tomatoes. It won’t be long before you’re enjoying a slice of delicious, juicy homegrown tomatoes. Pesche’s Garden Center offers both organic and natural controls. Aphids and white flies are now a problem. Keep up with feeding and proper watering. Expert advice on the most appropriate pesticide to use should always be sought from local agricultural authorities.The month of August is almost here. Recommendations will vary with the crop and system of cultivation. When using a pesticide, always wear protective clothing and follow the instructions on the product label, such as dosage, timing of application, and pre-harvest interval. Systemic products are available, e.g., strobilurins, although they are expensive and, if used too often, the fungus may develop resistance to them. Use protectant fungicides, mancozeb, chlorothalonil or copper products. Avoid planting overlapping crops of tomato, especially if outbreaks of early blight occur.Ĭomplete resistance does not exist, but there are varieties which show differences in tolerance to the disease.Do not plant one crop of tomato after another in the same land use a rotation of 2-3 years, avoiding crops that belong to the tomato family.

Collect plant remains and burn them, or dig them deeply into the soil.

Make sure that the plants are healthy by applying fertilizer at recommended rates healthy plants are less susceptible to this disease.

Control weeds, as these may be sources of the fungus, especially those in the tomato/potato family.

Preferably, water only at the base of the plant avoid overhead irrigation or, if used, apply early in the day, to make sure the plants are dry before nightfall.

Prune any diseased leaves from the bottom of the plants as they become infected.

Remove a few branches from the lower part of the plants to allow better airflow at the base.

Space plants (60-90 cm) so that air circulates around them this helps to dry the leaves rapidly after overhead irrigation or rain.

Select fields with good drainage, and where surrounding trees do not prevent airflow, so that leaves dry as rapidly as possible after rain or overhead irrigation.

If symptoms are seen, discard the plant, and spray with fungicide.

Carefully check each seedling before transplanting in the field, and remove any that show early blight symptoms.

Remove any 'volunteer' tomato plants as well as weeds, especially those in the tomato family, from around nurseries, and in and around field plots.

#EARLY BLIGHT TOMATO FREE#

Make sure that the seed is free from contamination of the fungus, by saving seed only from disease-free plants.Favourable conditions for the disease are warm, humid weather with heavy dews or rains. Survival occurs in crop remains, and also on seed. Spread over short distances occurs when spores are moved plant-to-plant in wind, rain and overhead irrigation water. Spots also occur on the stems of seedlings as large brown spots near soil level, and may lead to stem break and death.

The rots become covered in black spore masses of the fungus (Photo 5). On the fruits, the spots are dark brown or black, sunken, extending over part or all of the fruit. On the stems, the spots are similar, except that they are darker and more elongated (Photo 4). Loss of leaves can cause sunscald on the fruits. As they grow, they develop dark brown rings, like a target, a characteristic of the disease (Photos 1&2, tomato & Photo 3, potato). The spots often merge, and the leaves dry up and fall. Small, pinpoint to 6 mm, circular to angular brown spots occur on the older leaves, with yellow margins. All parts of the plant, leaves, stems and fruit, are infected.

Early blight tomato