When cultivating tomatoes as a winter vegetable, one should be careful about tomato plant diseases and how to treat tomato plant diseases. Its yield can be disrupted due to various diseases. In many cases, farmers identify the disease but do not know how to eradicate it. Many people do not have a scientific idea about what fertilizers and pesticides should be applied to any disease. As a result, although the yield is good, the quality of most tomatoes is not good. As a result, the exact price is not available. The Department of Agriculture has provided advice to farmers about the major diseases of tomatoes and their remedies. Their assurance is that if proper precautions are taken, it will be possible to eradicate many of these diseases. If these diseases can be controlled, the yield will increase a lot. The symptoms, causes, and remedies of some of the deadly diseases of tomatoes are discussed below.
How to Treat Tomato Plant Diseases
Damping off and root rot
Causes of the damping off and root knot disease
Pythium, Rhizoctonia, Phytophthora, Chlorosium (Pythium, Rhizoctonia, Phytophthora, Sclerotium, etc.), and other soil-borne fungi.
The spread and symptoms of the damping off and root rot disease
The risk of disease outbreaks is higher if the soil is moist all the time if cloudy weather prevails and ventilation is disrupted. The disease occurs in the seedbed due to a fungal attack. It is a deadly disease. When the seed is attacked, the seed rots. Seedlings die at an early stage immediately after seed germination. This is called pre-emergence damping off. During post-emergence damping off, the cortical cells of the hypothalamus of the plant rapidly shrink and turn black. The seedlings rot near the soil and become thin. The presence of the fungus can be seen on the stem. The roots of the plant are thin, leaky, and fall down and die.
Treatment for damping off and root rot
- A well-drained high seedbed should be created where there is adequate sunlight and ventilation.
- Disease-free seeds should be used.
- Seedbeds should be cleaned with formaldehyde 2 weeks before sowing.
- Biofungicide- seeds should be treated with Trichoderma before sown.
- Half raw chicken dung should be mixed with soil at the rate of 3-4 tons per hectare 3 weeks before sowing.
- The wood powder should be sprinkled 3 inches or 6 cm high on the seedbed and burnt.
- The seedbed should be covered with transparent polythene in the sun on a sunny day for at least 3-4 weeks.
- Seeds should be sown after purification with Provex-200 or Bevistin (2.5 g per kg seed).
- Seeds should be soaked in hot water at 52° C for 30 minutes, then purified and sown.
- In case of attack of the disease, Bavistin should be mixed at the rate of 2 gm per liter of water or Cupravit at the rate of 4 gm per liter of water and sprayed at the base of the seedlings.
Early blight
Causes and spread of the early blight disease
It is attacked by a fungus called Alternaria solani. The fungi survive in crop residues, alternative hosts, and seeds. High temperatures (24-28° Celsius) and high humidity (above 80%) are conducive to disease. The disease can be spread to healthy plants through rain and wind. Potatoes, peppers can be an alternative host to the disease.
Symptoms of the early blight disease
The leaves, stems, and even fruits of the tomato plant can be affected. Symptoms of the disease usually appear first on the lower adult leaves, then gradually on the upper leaves. Infected leaves have round spots of black or light brown color. Many spots mix together and destroy many parts of the leaf and the leaves turn yellow or brown and fall to the ground. The stems have small, round or long and dilated spots. When the stems of the flower buds are affected, the flowers and unripe fruits fall off. The affected older fruit also produces round spots and spoils the fruit.
Treatment for early blight
- Disease-free seeds should be used.
- Seeds should be sown after purification with Provex-200 or Bevistin (2.5 g per kg seed).
- Use balanced fertilizer as well as vermicompost fertilizer in time and irrigate as required.
- Abandoned parts of plants and weeds should be collected and destroyed.
- As soon as 2/1 spots appear on the leaves, Rovral should be mixed with 2 gm per liter of water and sprayed every 7-10 days.
Late blight
Causes and spread of the late blight disease
Late blight diseases of tomato plants are attacked by Phytophthora infestans fungus. Outbreaks appear to be exacerbated by low temperatures (12-15° Celsius), high humidity (above 96%), cloudy humid weather, and drizzle. The disease spreads rapidly through air and irrigation.
Symptoms of the late blight disease
In the early stages, green, black, watery zigzag spots appear on the leaves. In humid weather, these spots grow rapidly in number and size and turn from brown to black. Occasionally white fungus grows on the underside of the leaves. Infected leaves rot. The disease spreads from the leaves to the stems and from the stems. At first gray-green, water-wet spots appear on the surface of the fruit. Gradually the spots grow and cover about half of the fruit and the affected part turns brown. After seeing the symptoms of the disease, if the weather prevails in low temperature, humid and foggy conditions, the plants will glow or burn in 3-4 days and it will spread like an epidemic.
Remedy of the late blight disease
- After the harvest, the abandoned parts of the affected plants of the land should be collected and burnt.
- Need to collect healthy seeds from disease free areas.
- Potato and tomato plants should not be planted side by side and the land should be grazed or should be crop rotation without potatoes and tomatoes.
- Disease resistant varieties should be cultivated.
- Melody DO should be mixed at the rate of 2 gm per liter of water and 1 gm of Secure per liter of water and sprayed on top and bottom of the leaves at least 3 times after every 7 days.
Fusarium wilt
Causes and symptoms of the fusarium wilt disease
The Fusarium wilt fungal disease is caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. Sp. Lycopersici. The old leaves of the tomato sapling bend downwards and fall off. Gradually the whole tomato plant fell down and died. Brown spots appear on the trunk and roots of the plant. The leaves of a branch on one side of the plant first turn yellow and then the other parts turn yellow. As the disease progresses, all the leaves turn yellow and eventually the whole branch dies. In this way, the whole plant dies slowly.
Remedy of the fusarium wilt disease
- If possible, the soil should be cleaned with formalin.
- Healthy seedlings should be planted.
- Infected plants must be destroyed.
- Lime must be applied to the land.
- Applying the right amount of potash fertilizer to the land reduces the disease.
- Root gut worms need to be suppressed as it helps in the penetration of fungi.
- In case of attack of the disease, Bavistin should be mixed at the rate of 2 gm per liter of water or Cupravit at the rate of 4 gm per liter of water and sprayed at the base of the seedlings.
Bacterial wilt
Causes and spread of the bacterial wilt disease
Bacterial wilt disease is caused by the attack of a bacterium called Ralstonia solanacearum. Abandoned parts of the plant, soil, and alternative hosts survive the disease. The disease is spread through irrigation water and agricultural machinery used in the field. The disease spreads rapidly at high temperatures (28-32° Celsius) and high humidity.
Symptoms of the bacterial wilt disease
The disease can occur at any time of tomato plant growth and causes extensive damage. The leaves and stems of the affected plant fall off very quickly and the plant dies. The leaves do not spot at all until the plant dies. White roots emerge from the roots of the affected plant on the ground. At the onset of the disease, when the lower part of the stem is cut, black spots are seen in the marrow and when pressure is applied, a gray sticky substance comes out from it. This fluid contains many bacteria. Moreover, if the cuttings at the base of the affected plant are cut and immersed in a clean glass of water, the bacterial ooze-like white thread can be seen to come out.
Remedy of the bacterial wilt disease
- Disease resistant varieties should be cultivated.
- The desired variety of tomato should be grafted with the stem of wild eggplant.
- Almond, mustard, maize crops should be cultivated as a crop rotation at the grain stage.
- Diseased plants should be uprooted and destroyed as soon as they are seen.
- Tomato land cannot be kept damp.
- 20 kg stable bleaching powder per hectare should be applied to the soil at the time of last cultivation.
- Streptomycin sulphate (oxytetracycline) 20 ppm or Crocin AG 10 SP 0.5 g per liter of water should be mixed and sprayed every 4-7 days.
Leaf curl
Causes and spread of the leaf curl disease
This disease is caused by the attack of a virus. The disease is transmitted from diseased plants to healthy plants by the attack of whitefly insects.
Symptoms of the leaf curl disease
The plant becomes short. Wavy folds form on the leaves and the leaves become very wrinkled. Older curled leaves become thick and crunchy. As the level of attack increases, the leaves die. The plant has extra branches and the plant completely loses its flower and fruit-bearing capacity.
Remedy of the leaf curl disease
- Diseased plants must be uprooted as soon as they are seen.
- Diseased seedlings should not be planted under any circumstances.
- Seeds should be collected from healthy plants for the next season.
- Seed should be treated with Gaucho pesticide (5 g / kg seed).
- To control insects, Admire pesticide should be mixed in 1 liter of water at the rate of 0.5 ml and sprayed every 7-10 days.
Yellow mosaic virus
Causes and spread of the yellow mosaic virus disease
The yellow mosaic disease is caused by a virus. This viral disease is transmitted from diseased plants to healthy plants by the attack of whitefly insects.
Symptoms of the yellow mosaic disease
When the tomato plant becomes diseased at a young age, the plant becomes short. The veins of the leaves of the tomato plant turning yellow. Infected leaves lose their normal green color and produce a mixture of light green and pale yellow. The leaf axils are slightly twisted and distorted. In the next stage, the whole leaf turns yellow. Infected plants have low yields and normal fruit size is lost.
Remedy of the yellow mosaic disease
- Seeds should be collected from healthy plants and healthy seedlings should be planted.
- Diseased plants must be uprooted as soon as they are seen.
- Avoid smoking tobacco, cigarettes while working on the land.
- Seed should be treated with Gaucho pesticide (5 g / kg seed).
- To control insects, Admire pesticide should be mixed in 1 liter of water at the rate of 0.5 ml and sprayed every 7-10 days.
Root knot
Causes and spread of the root knot disease
The root-knot disease is caused by the Meloidogyne species of worms. Worms live in the soil. They are usually located on the top surface of the soil. High temperatures (25-28° C) and light soils are very conducive to their habitat and reproduction. They are spread through rain, irrigation water, and agricultural machinery.
Symptoms of the root knot disease
As a result of the infestation of soil worms, the cells of the affected area grow rapidly and the area swells to form knots. Infected tomato plants become weak, thin, and yellowish. Infected plant growth is slower than normal plant growth. The disease can be easily identified by removing the soil at the base of the plant and seeing the presence of git or knot in the roots. When the seedlings are infected, all the roots are destroyed and the plants fall down during the day. Flower and fruit-bearing capacity is greatly reduced.
Remedy of the leaf curl disease
- Disease resistant varieties should be cultivated.
- Mustard, almond, wheat, maize etc. should be adopted in the land.
- In the dry season, the soil should be kept dry and the soil should be well dried by cultivating 2-3 times.
- Leaving the land fallow kills the worms of the previous crop, so if possible the land should be kept fallow.
- Even if the land is kept waterlogged, the worms die, so if possible the land should be kept waterlogged for weeks to months.
- The seedbed should be covered with transparent polythene in the sun on a sunny day for at least 3-4 weeks.
- Half raw chicken manure 4-5 tons per hectare should be applied to the soil 21 days before planting and mixed in the soil.
- At the time of transplanting, 30 kg Furadan 5 g / ha should be applied to the soil.
Table of tomato plant diseases, causal agents, symptoms and the treatments
| Disease name | Causal agent | Symptoms | Treatment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damping-off and root rot | Rhizoctonia, Phytophthora, Chlorosium, and other soil-borne fungi. | Seedlings die at an early stage. Cortical cells of the hypothalamus of the plant rapidly shrink and turn black. Roots of the plant are thin, leaky, and fall down and die. | A well-drained high seedbed. Seedbeds should be cleaned with formaldehyde. Seeds should be sown after purification with Provex-200 or Bevistin. |
| Early blight | Alternaria solani fungus | Infected leaves have round spots of black or light brown color. Many spots mix together and destroy many parts of the leaf and the leaves turn yellow or brown and fall to the ground. Stems have small, round, or long and dilated spots. Unripe fruits fall off. | Use balanced fertilizer in time and irrigate as required. Abandoned parts of plants and weeds should be collected and destroyed. Rovral @ 2 gm per liter of water and spray every 7-10 days. |
| Late blight | Phytophthora infestans fungus | Green, black, watery zigzag spots appear on the leaves. These spots grow rapidly in number and size and turn from brown to black in humid conditions. White fungus grows underneath the leaves. | The abandoned parts of the affected plants of the land should be collected and burnt. Potato and tomato plants should not be planted side by side. Crop rotation should be maintained. Melody DO @ 2 gm per liter of water and 1 gm of Secure per liter of water and sprayed on top and bottom of the leaves at least 3 times. |
| Fusarium wilt | Fusarium oxysporum f. Sp. Lycopersici | Old leaves of the tomato sapling bend downwards and fall off. Brown spots appear on the trunk and roots of the plant. Leaves turn yellow and eventually the whole branch dies. | Soil should be cleaned with formalin. Lime must be applied to the land. Bavistin @ 2 gm per liter of water or Cupravit @ 4 gm per liter of water and sprayed at the base of the seedlings. |
| Bacterial wilt | Ralstonia solanacearum bacteria | Leaves and stems of the affected plant fall off very quickly and the plant dies. Black spots are seen in the marrow when pressed. Bacterial ooze comes out. | Tomato land cannot be kept damp. Crop rotation should be maintained. Tomato plants should be grafted with the stem of wild eggplant. 20 kg bleaching powder per hectare should be applied to the soil at the time of last cultivation. |
| Leaf curl | By the attack of whitefly insects | The plant becomes short. Wavy folds form on the leaves and the leaves become very wrinkled. The plant completely loses its flower and fruit-bearing capacity. | Seed should be treated with Gaucho pesticide (5 g / kg seed). Admire pesticide in 1 liter of water @ 0.5 ml and sprayed every 7-10 days. |
| Yellow mosaic virus | Viral disease | The plant becomes short. Veins of the leaves of the tomato plant turning yellow. Leaf axils are slightly twisted and distorted. The whole leaf may turn yellow. | Seed should be treated with Gaucho pesticide (5 g / kg seed). Admire pesticide should be mixed in 1 liter of water @ 0.5 ml and sprayed every 7-10 days. |
| Root-knot | Infestation of soil worms | The cells of the affected area grow rapidly and the area swells to form knots. Presence of git or knot in the roots. The roots are destroyed and the plants fall down during the day. | Mustard, almond, wheat, maize, etc. should be adopted in the land. The land should be kept fallow for a month. Half raw chicken manure 4-5 tons per hectare should be applied to the soil 21 days before planting and mixed in the soil. At the time of transplanting, 30 kg Furadan 5 g / ha should be applied to the soil. |
Frequently asked questions
What does disease look like on tomato plants?
The disease is caused by a soil-borne bacterium called Ralstonia. It is a soil-borne disease, meaning the germs of the disease live in the soil. Germs spread around through irrigation water and attack new plants. Outbreaks appear to be exacerbated during alkaline soils. The higher the soil temperature, the higher the incidence of the disease.
If more urea fertilizer is given in the land and less MP and TSP fertilizer are given, the disease is more. If there are nematodes or worms in the soil, the disease is more prevalent. The worms injure the roots of the plant, through which the bacteria enter the plant. The germs enter the plant trunk (vascular bundle) through the wound of the plant root. And blocks the passage of water (xylem vessels) inside the trunk. Much like a human heart block. As a result, water cannot go up from the roots of the plant and the plant falls. The plant died in a day or two.
How do you treat tomato disease?
1. Disease-resistant varieties are very rare in vegetable crops. There are some tolerant varieties that should be planted.
2. Bleaching powder mixed with 15-20 kg/ha of soil during soil cultivation kills the bacteria present in the soil.
3. Before planting, the roots of the seedlings should be soaked in a solution of copper fungicide or approved bactericide for 15-20 minutes.
4. Before planting seedlings in the ground, a pinch of 5-10 gm/peat furadan 5g should be mixed at the place of planting seedlings in the soil. This will kill the worms and insects in the soil.
5. Flood irrigation should not be given in case of disease attack in the land, only water should be given at the base of the plant. Urea fertilizer should be given less. Infected plants should be picked up and put on the ground. The soil of the affected area should be removed and new plants should be planted with new soil.
6. Copper fungicides have antibacterial properties. Therefore, copper oxychloride group Salcox / Blitox / Sunvit / Delight / Hosakop fungicide mixed with 7-8 gm per kg of water and wetting the soil at the base of the plant reduces the disease.
7. Some bactericides have come on the market recently. These are Bactrol / Bactroban / Autoback of the Bismerthiazol group – which should be mixed with 2 gm per liter of water and sprayed at the base of the plant. There are also Imidacloprid + Thiram + Atavo / Mazda / Topzim of the Carbendazim group. Kasumin / Kaiser of the Kasugamycin group. Timsen of the Quadratic Ammonium Group – These can be applied in approved doses. Also available as an antibiotic, Validamycin group Valid / Sinopa / Nirbhaya / Synom – 1.5 ml per liter of water.
8. TriBasic Copper Sulphate (Kuproxat 345 SC) should be mixed in 1 liter of water at the rate of 5 ml and sprayed 2-3 times in 7 days at the base of the plant.
9. Bactericidal streptomycin sulphate + tetracycline hydrochloride (Crocin-AG10SP) should be mixed at the rate of 0.8 g per liter of water and sprayed 2-3 times in 7 days at the base of the plant. Good results are obtained by using Crocin-AG10SP and Kuproxat 345SC in two phases.
10. Also available in the market are Streptomycin Sulphate Group Bactericidal Crocin / AntiBack / DiBacteria / Baha – These are mixed at the rate of 0.5 ml per liter of water and applied 2-3 times at the base of the plant. It is better to use a fungicide of copper group and any bactericide in phases. Remember, any chemical is poison; These must be applied appropriately in the approved dosage.
Last words
Tomato is one of the main vegetables in the whole world. Used as curry, salad, soup, chutney. Moreover, tomatoes are stored and bottled in various ways. Tomatoes are rich in vitamin C and enough B and vitamin A and minerals. But tomato plant diseases are a major obstacle in tomato production. It is possible to get the expected yield from the tomato plant if preventive measures are taken from the remedy. Here are some suggestions on how to treat tomato plant diseases. Always collect disease-free and approved seeds. If possible, select resistant varieties. In most cases, the disease of tomato plants is transmitted from the soil. Use organic mulching to prevent infection from the soil. Diseased plants should always be uprooted and destroyed. Irrigation should be stopped in case of bacterial diseases. Only water at the base of the plant. And good quality bactericide should be applied to the plant. Regularly clean the equipment and other machinery required for irrigation. Adhere to regular crop rotation. I hope you have found all the answers to all your questions about tomato disease. However, if you have any information, please contact us through the contact page and we will try to answer your question correctly.
