Page 001 |
Previous | 1 of 4 | Next |
|
|
Loading content ...
Department of Botany and Plant Pathology Lilly Hall of Life Sciences Plant Disease control BP-3 FIVE STEPS FOR HEALTHY GARDEN TOMATOES R. X. Latin, Extension Plant Pathologist Gardeners generally spend much time and labor planting tomatoes each spring anticipating a bountiful harvest. Unfortunately, the harvest often falls far short of expectations because dis- eases have ruined the crop. Of six diseases that plague Indiana’s tomato gardeners year after year, five (early blight, Septoria leaf spot, anthracnose, Fusarium wilt, and Verticillium wilt) are caused by fungi common to garden soils. The sixth (blossom-end rot) is a physiological disease related to the climate and garden environment. Although the parasitic fungi in the garden and the midwest climate cannot be avoided, good yields can be achieved with proper planning and preparation before planting and careful attention to the plants afterward. The guidelines for producing healthy plants and good yields include: 1) using resistant varie- ties, 2) tilling and fertilizing the garden properly, 3) providing adequate water, 4) using fungicides as needed, and 5) cleaning up the garden in autumn. These five steps for producing healthy tomatoes are discussed in detail, following a brief descrip- tion of the diseases. The Diseases Anthracnose Key symptoms of anthracnose infection appear as sunken, circular spots on ripe fruit (Figure 1). The sunken areas can range from 1/4 to 3/4 inch in diameter. Older anthracnose infections frequently lead the way to soft rot, making the fruit totally unusable. The fungus can overwinter on plant debris in the garden. Disease may be spread to healthy fruits via rain-splashed or airborne spores produced by the fungus. Early blight Early blight infections are most noticeable as circular or irregularly shaped brown spots on tomato foliage (Figure 2). A closer look at the spots will reveal target-like rings or concentric circles within the brown area. The early blight fungus is most likely to attack stressed plants or plant parts. Hence, older leaves are usually the first to show symptoms on apparently healthy plants. Also, plants stressed by other diseases, nitrogen defi- ciency, drought, or too much water succumb to early blight infection sooner than do more vigor- ous plants. The fungus can overwinter on infested residue in the garden. Disease is spread via air- borne spores and is favored by warm, wet weather. Under favorable environmental conditions early blight will defoliate plants in a few weeks, making ripe fruit more prone to anthracnose infection. Septoria leaf spot Leaves with small circular spots (1/16 to 1/8 inch in diameter with gray centers and darker margins) are typical of those infected with the Sep- toria leaf spot fungus (Figure 3). Like early blight, Septoria attacks less vigorous plants and plant parts. On a single plant the disease can progress rapidly from lower foliage to new growth in cool, wet weather. The fungus can overwinter on infested residue in the garden. Splashing rain is largely responsible for spreading spores from plant to plant. Fusarium wilt Fusarium wilt is caused by a fungus which can inhabit almost all soils. Plants can be infected at all stages of development. Young seedlings infected by the fungus result in damped-off seedlings. Cooperative Extension Service • Purdue University • West Lafayette, Indiana
Object Description
Purdue Identification Number | UA14-13-mimeoBP003-1983 |
Title | Mimeo BP, no. 003 (Mar. 1983) |
Title of Issue | Five steps for healthy garden tomatoes |
Date of Original | 1983 |
Genre | Periodical |
Collection Title | Extension Mimeo BP (Purdue University. Agricultural Extension Service) |
Rights Statement | Copyright Purdue University. All rights reserved. |
Coverage | United States – Indiana |
Type | text |
Format | JP2 |
Language | eng |
Repository | Purdue University Libraries |
Date Digitized | 02/23/2016 |
Digitization Information | Original scanned at 400 ppi on a BookEye 3 scanner using Opus software. Display images generated in Contentdm as JP2000s; file format for archival copy is uncompressed TIF format. |
URI | UA14-13-mimeoBP003-1983.tif |
Description
Title | Page 001 |
Genre | Periodical |
Collection Title | Extension Mimeo BP (Purdue University. Agricultural Extension Service) |
Rights Statement | Copyright Purdue University. All rights reserved. |
Coverage | United States – Indiana |
Type | text |
Format | JP2 |
Language | eng |
Transcript | Department of Botany and Plant Pathology Lilly Hall of Life Sciences Plant Disease control BP-3 FIVE STEPS FOR HEALTHY GARDEN TOMATOES R. X. Latin, Extension Plant Pathologist Gardeners generally spend much time and labor planting tomatoes each spring anticipating a bountiful harvest. Unfortunately, the harvest often falls far short of expectations because dis- eases have ruined the crop. Of six diseases that plague Indiana’s tomato gardeners year after year, five (early blight, Septoria leaf spot, anthracnose, Fusarium wilt, and Verticillium wilt) are caused by fungi common to garden soils. The sixth (blossom-end rot) is a physiological disease related to the climate and garden environment. Although the parasitic fungi in the garden and the midwest climate cannot be avoided, good yields can be achieved with proper planning and preparation before planting and careful attention to the plants afterward. The guidelines for producing healthy plants and good yields include: 1) using resistant varie- ties, 2) tilling and fertilizing the garden properly, 3) providing adequate water, 4) using fungicides as needed, and 5) cleaning up the garden in autumn. These five steps for producing healthy tomatoes are discussed in detail, following a brief descrip- tion of the diseases. The Diseases Anthracnose Key symptoms of anthracnose infection appear as sunken, circular spots on ripe fruit (Figure 1). The sunken areas can range from 1/4 to 3/4 inch in diameter. Older anthracnose infections frequently lead the way to soft rot, making the fruit totally unusable. The fungus can overwinter on plant debris in the garden. Disease may be spread to healthy fruits via rain-splashed or airborne spores produced by the fungus. Early blight Early blight infections are most noticeable as circular or irregularly shaped brown spots on tomato foliage (Figure 2). A closer look at the spots will reveal target-like rings or concentric circles within the brown area. The early blight fungus is most likely to attack stressed plants or plant parts. Hence, older leaves are usually the first to show symptoms on apparently healthy plants. Also, plants stressed by other diseases, nitrogen defi- ciency, drought, or too much water succumb to early blight infection sooner than do more vigor- ous plants. The fungus can overwinter on infested residue in the garden. Disease is spread via air- borne spores and is favored by warm, wet weather. Under favorable environmental conditions early blight will defoliate plants in a few weeks, making ripe fruit more prone to anthracnose infection. Septoria leaf spot Leaves with small circular spots (1/16 to 1/8 inch in diameter with gray centers and darker margins) are typical of those infected with the Sep- toria leaf spot fungus (Figure 3). Like early blight, Septoria attacks less vigorous plants and plant parts. On a single plant the disease can progress rapidly from lower foliage to new growth in cool, wet weather. The fungus can overwinter on infested residue in the garden. Splashing rain is largely responsible for spreading spores from plant to plant. Fusarium wilt Fusarium wilt is caused by a fungus which can inhabit almost all soils. Plants can be infected at all stages of development. Young seedlings infected by the fungus result in damped-off seedlings. Cooperative Extension Service • Purdue University • West Lafayette, Indiana |
Repository | Purdue University Libraries |
Digitization Information | Original scanned at 400 ppi on a BookEye 3 scanner using Opus software. Display images generated in Contentdm as JP2000s; file format for archival copy is uncompressed TIF format. |
Tags
Comments
Post a Comment for Page 001