Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus is spread by the tomato/potato Psyllid, an insect which infests tomatoes and other members of the Solanaceae family with Solanaceae family plants, leading to severe wilting and plant death.
Bacteria speck appears on older leaves and petioles during cool, wet weather, with tiny, circular spots with dark borders containing yellow tissue that releases spores.
Aphids
Tomato aphids are small sap-sucking insects that form dense colonies on top and sides of stems, sucking sap from tomatoes to form yellowish-orange colonies that quickly defoliate plants. Look out for small water-soaked spots with yellow haloes on leaves or fruit that have raised or scabby patches; affected plants decline and eventually die as their effects spread through beetles, flies, butterflies and beetles that release spores that spread blight’s spread further by spreading insects such as beetles beetles, waterways and wind currents as spore releases by beetles beetles beetles and wind etc releasing its effects via beetles beetles beetles etc to make the condition most severe during cool wet conditions where plant parts turn brown and shrivel up while fruits become misshapen often due to stem end rot at stem end while the interior stems become affected with blackened areas on interior stems caused by blackening from within stems affected.
Blight can be prevented through crop rotation, staking and pruning to improve air circulation between plants, as well as using preventative fungicide programs including chlorothalonil or mancozeb (Table 1). Tomato plants should not be planted directly after beans or peppers.
Other diseases afflicting tomatoes include bacterial wilt, spotted wilt virus (SWV), scab and tobacco mosaic virus. While bacterial wilt causes generalized leaf wilting, SWV results in spots on leaves as well as failed fruits to ripen; both diseases are spread via thrips, whiteflies and other insects.
Root rot and other fungal diseases such as Phytophthora root rot can produce fruits that are misshapen, discolored and bitter when squeezed, with any mechanical damage making the tomato even more vulnerable to infestation by organisms responsible for decay.
Organic and chemical-free solutions for growing tomatoes include using disease-resistant varieties, starting seeds indoors in sterilized potting mix, spacing plants so they can be supported adequately by stakes or cages, using reflective mulches, avoiding overwatering and promptly clearing away crop residue post harvest to limit pathogen spread. A soil test to identify any deficiencies will help determine what amendments need to be applied prior to planting and reaching out to your county extension office or research facility can also provide more insight into local threats such as diseases or pests they offer advice on managing these issues.
Blight
Blight (Alternaria solani) is one of the primary problems faced by tomato patch gardeners. This serious disease caused by Septoria lycopersici fungus begins as small spots with dark borders and beige centers filled with spores; eventually these spots enlarge to form large, rotted areas on leaves, petioles and stems before eventually invading tomatoes themselves, cracking skins and decaying flesh.
Fungus overwinters in the soil and is transmitted to plants via splashing rain, overhead irrigation and infected garden tools. It spreads quickly under warm temperatures and humid conditions; conditions created by overcrowded planting, poor soil drainage or excessive fertilization enhance its development rapidly.
Early blight can occur at any stage of the growing season but typically becomes most severe during hot, wet conditions such as rain or irrigation, which results in stressed plants with wet foliage. Its presence is less of an issue in well-drained, loose and rich soil conditions.
Late blight is another disease that plagues tomato plants in wet, cool climates. It attacks leaves, stems and fruits at all stages of development – symptoms starting in older foliage before progressing inward toward the center of the plant, with dark circular spots featuring a bull’s-eye pattern or concentric rings forming spots of damage.
This fungus targets plants when stressed, initially attacking lower leaves before spreading upwards towards leaves and stems. Wind, rain or infected plant debris can transport it further afield; even splashing water from water tanks may spread its spread.
Blight and late blight are more prevalent in conditions with poor air circulation, such as dense crop environments with limited spacing practices or pruning practices that restrict airflow to individual plants. Therefore, applying plant spacing practices such as staking, pruning and thinning to increase the amount of air that circulates around each plant can improve airflow around them and aid with airflow through organic composts or mulches to help maximize micronutrient availability for healthy crops.
Mildew
Tomatoes can be vulnerable to many different types of diseases, but many can be effectively addressed through regular monitoring and preventative spraying. Recognizing and acting quickly upon any issues can ensure you have a thriving garden.
Powdery mildew is a leaf disease caused by Oidiopsis taurica fungus. Infection begins on older leaves near soil surface where fungal spores linger near soil surface before attaching themselves to drooping leaves or stems, leaving behind white or gray haloes on surfaces. Infection can often be identified by small, angular spots on either upper or lower leaf surfaces. Severely affected leaves will wilt, turn brown and eventually drop; fruit and stem infection is less prevalent but still possible. Fungus thrives in damp weather, increasing disease activity when rain or overhead irrigation occurs. To avoid infection, resistant cultivars must be planted alongside good air circulation and fungicide copper (HGIC 1253 Tomatoes: Controlling Mildew and Other Diseases) is recommended as a proven and organic control solution.
Early Blight is a devastating, yet often controllable disease affecting tomatoes and potatoes that attacks foliage, petioles and stems – not the fruit – but not inflicting fruit itself. Caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, which survives in soil decay from infected plants or nightshade weeds. Infection typically takes place under cool and wet conditions with temperatures between 68 to 77 deg F and high humidity; infections typically take place under cool, wet conditions where temperatures range between 68 to 77 deg F and humidity is high – where insect bites, tools, rainfall or overhead irrigation may spread its spores further into soil which could remain there up to two years or even longer!
Septoria leaf spot fungus can significantly lower yields from tomato crops. Infection usually begins on older leaves near the ground at the first sign of fruit set and spots appear small and dark with concentric rings similar to target-like targets – worsened by humid and warm weather conditions. Fungicides are effective means of control while crop rotation with non-susceptible crops and clearing away plant debris after harvest will lessen disease severity.
Bacterial spot of tomatoes can be managed effectively through using disease-free transplants planted in well-drained, rich soil. Overhead irrigation should be avoided while mulch is used to suppress weeds. Excess nitrogen fertilization must also be limited according to recommendations found in HGIC 1652 Soil Testing for best results.
Pests
Tomato plants are susceptible to pests and diseases that rob them of essential nutrients they require for growth, and the best way to identify and address the issue is by paying close attention to damage symptoms; many insects and disease-causing organisms follow specific patterns when feeding on tomatoes which make it easy to spot.
Aphids attack tomato leaves and stems, leaving them distorted and discolored; while hornworm larvae penetrate tomato skins to consume their interiors. Colorado potato beetles feed on tomatoes along with potatoes and other related vegetables; their presence can be detected by circular holes on leaves and stems. Stink bugs drain juice from tomato fruit leaving dark pinpricks that create an unpleasant aroma; their presence also depletes natural oils from the plant, decreasing resistance against disease or parasites.
Early Blight (Alternaria solani) typically appears during summer, manifested by leaf spots with brown-to-black targets on older leaves, as well as stem and fruit infections. To minimize infection, always use clean seeds and potting mix, sterilize tools after handling tomatoes, remove infected plant tissues immediately and destroy all infected plant tissue before it overwinters in soil or compost contaminations, as well as use calcium nitrate as a fungicide before transplanting or at first sign of disease.
Blossom End Rot (Erysiphe necator) is an annoying fungal disease affecting fruit that’s ready for harvest: small areas of decay develop at the base of tomatoes. To combat it, resistant varieties should be chosen; plants should also be spaced further apart and treated with copper sulfate fungicide spraying as this condition develops more often during warm, wet environments.
Tomato hornworms (Trichilia hesperia) feed on tomato, pepper and corn crops, often tunneling into infected tomatoes to feast on their juicy flesh. You may notice dark spots surrounded by light areas in infected fruit with soft skin feeling spongy; spraying kaolin clay on infested fruits will deter tomato hornworms as well as other garden pests.
Nematodes can also infiltrate tomatoes, attacking roots and taking away essential nutrients necessary for their healthy development. Nematodes cause lumpy swellings of root systems as they feed off their essential nutrients – this leads to stunted growth. To protect tomatoes against this issue, avoid watering from overhead sources while amending soil with organic matter such as compost. Crop rotation with beans and peppers that have similar susceptibilities should also be practiced, along with proper sanitation (removing diseased plant material immediately post-harvest).
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