What is Fusarium wilt,?

Question

Re Earlier question (tomatoes),haven't overwatered, are protected from strong sun, growing in multi purpose compost,on checking the roots they are short as though being eaten,checked gardening book & only resemblence to grum/worm we found was,Swift Moth ,Can anyone help, we don't want to lose a great crop of tomatoes,

Answer 1

Fusarium wilt is a fungal disease affecting the water conducting tissues of the plants.

Perhaps these websites may be of use to you:

http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell.e...

http://www.kdcomm.net/~tomato/Tomato/d_o...

http://ipm.ncsu.edu/AG295/html/tomato_ke...

Answer 2

Fusarium wilt is a fungal disease that tomatoes can get.  The leaves will begin to die starting at the lowest leaves and working up the plant.  It sounds as if you might have nematodes.  The symptoms would be a plant that seems to wilt in a little wind as if it has not been watered.  The nematodes attack the roots so that the plant cannot take up water and nutrients.  Is that what you are seeing?  To diagnose nematodes really requires that an expert examine your soil, such as at your county Extension Office. If that is the problem, there isn't much you can do about it for this year's crop. Here is some information about nematodes:

https://muextension.missouri.edu/explore...

Here is another good guide to tomato problems including fusarium wilt:

http://ppp.missouri.edu/newsletters/meg/...

Answer 3

tomatos may be infected at any age by the fungi that cause Fusarium wilt and Verticillium wilt. The wilt organisms usually enter the plant through young roots and then grow into and up the water conducting vessels of the roots and stem. As the vessels are plugged and collapse, the water supply to the leaves is blocked. With a limited water supply, leaves begin to wilt on sunny days and recover at night. Wilting may first appear in the top of the plant or in the lower leaves. The process may continue until the entire plant is wilted, stunted, or dead. Tomato and potato plants may recover somewhat but are usually weak, unthrifty, and produce fruit of low quality. Peppers typically collapse rapidly and die. Fusarium and Verticillium wilts are rarely significant in field grown tomatoes due to the widespread incorporation in tomato cultivars of genes for resistance to the pathogen. However, the resurgent interest in planting "heirloom" tomato varieties which do not carry resistance genes has resulted in increased incidence of Fusarium and Verticillium wilts. Additionally, new races of both pathogens have been identified that are capable of overcoming the resistance in many popular tomato varieties. Verticillium race 2 is now common in tomatoes in Ohio, but its importance in reducing yield is not known at this time. There is very little genetic resistance available to either disease in pepper or eggplant.

Management

1. Because Fusarium and Verticillium fungi are widespread and persist several years in soil, a long crop rotation (4 to 6 years) is necessary to reduce populations of these fungi. Avoid using any solanaceous crop (potato, tomato, pepper, eggplant) in the rotation, and if Verticillium wilt is a problem, also avoid the use of strawberries and raspberries, which are highly susceptible. Rotate with cereals and grasses wherever possible. 


2. Keep rotational crops weed-free (there are many weeds hosts of Verticillium). 


3. Whenever practical, remove and destroy infested plant material after harvest. 


4. Maintain a high level of plant vigor with appropriate fertilization and irrigation, but do not over-irrigate, especially early in the season. 


5. Plant disease resistant tomato varieties, labeled V (for Verticillium) and F (for Fusarium). These disease resistance designations are usually shown in seed catalogues. Fusarium- or Verticillium-resistant varieties of eggplant, potato, and pepper are generally not available. 


6. If soils are severely infested, production of solanaceous crops may not be possible unless soil fumigation is an option. See the Ohio Vegetable Production Guide (OSU Extension Bulletin No. 672) for information on soil fumigation.