The main objective of this article is to provide information about 9 of the most common diseases in tomato plants and how to identify and control them.

As tomato growers and farmers, you are always looking for new ways to identify and control diseases in your tomatoes. Having complete knowledge about conditions is crucial for effective disease monitoring.

It is a fact that some diseases are not easily visible because they are caused by microorganisms that are invisible to the naked eye. You can find these microorganisms in various parts of the plants, including roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits.

Overview of Tomato:

Tomatoes, which originated from western South America, Mexico, and Central America, are a type of berry used in cooking. They arrived in Europe during the Columbian exchange and spread globally in the 16th century. Tomatoes offer a significant source of umami flavor, and people can enjoy them either raw or cooked in various dishes. Although technically considered a fruit, they are often used as a vegetable in culinary preparations.

Temperate climates worldwide can grow numerous varieties of tomato plants, and greenhouses enable year-round production. Tomato plants are typically 1-3 meters tall and need support due to weak stems.

There are two types of tomato plants: indeterminate, which are perennials in their natural habitat, and determinate or bush plants, which are annuals. The size of the tomato can vary from 1-10 cm in width.

Unveiling the 9 Common Tomato Plant Diseases and Control Measures

1. Blossom End Rot Disease:

Blossom End Rot Disease of Tomatoes. Image Source: SAU

Description: 

Blossom end rot of tomato is a physiological disease that causes the tissue of the blossom end of the fruit to break down and rot against the stem, resulting in reduced yield.

Symptoms:

• • This disease becomes prevalent with insufficient nutrient uptake and low translocation of calcium.
  • Occasionally, water-soaked spots form on the edges of the fruit and progressively darken to black.

Measures of Control:

• • • Providing balanced irrigation. Avoid using too much or too little water.
    • Use mulching to retain soil moisture during the dry season.
    • While tilling the soil, you cannot damage the roots.
    • Use the nitrate (NO3) form of nitrogen fertilizer.
    • In the case of red or acidic soil, applying 4 kg dolomite /435.60 sq. ft gives good results.

[In case You Miss it:
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2. White Mold Disease of Tomatoes

White Mold symptom

Description:

Night temperatures of about 60°F are favorable for infection. Spores are more likely to infect tomato plants if there are 16-72 hours of continuous humidity with 90% relative humidity.

Fungal spores from infected plant debris and tomato-associated weeds spread to newly planted tomato plants and cause re-disease.

Symptoms:

• • • Fungal attacks cause this disease.
    • A white cotton-like substance is seen on leaf buds, stems, and fruits.
    • It is not a fatal disease of tomatoes.

Measures of Control:

• • • Consider using sprinkler irrigation instead of flood irrigation.
    • You must remove the affected fruits, leaves, and tips.
    • Prepare the land by deep plowing before planting the seeds.
    • Propiconazole group fungicides such as Tilt 250 EC mixed with 0.5 ml / L of water and sprayed three times consecutively at an interval of 10 days.

3. Root Grub / Root-knot Nematode

Root grub / Root-knot Nematode Disease of Tomatoes

Description:

This is a significant disease among the nine common diseases in tomato plants. Due to this, the growth of the plant is reduced.

Causes:

The disease is caused by worms called Meloidogyne incognita and Meloidogyne javanica.

Symptoms:

• • If the worm attacks the plant early in its growth and the infestation is heavy, it becomes stunted and short.
  • The leaves are yellowish-green to yellow. In many cases, the leaves drop suddenly.
  • One of the most prominent signs of this disease is the presence of small and large knots on the tree’s roots when lifted.
  • Usually, the cells in the affected area grow rapidly and form knots.
  • The plant’s ability to produce flowers is greatly reduced, and it might not produce any flowers at all.

[You Can Read: The Best Treatment of Potato Blight Disease.]

Measures of Control:

• • Five tonnes of semi-rotted chicken manure per hectare should be applied to the land at least 21 days before planting and mixed well with the soil through irrigation.
  • Apply stable bleaching powder to the soil at 20 kg/ha at final tillage.
  • To control worms, apply Furadan 5G (an anthelmintic) at 25 kg/ha during transplanting or the final tillage.

4. Leaf Curl Virus of Tomatoes:

Symptoms of Leaf Carl Virus. Image Source: SAU

Causes:

This disease is caused by the attack of the Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus (TYLCV)—transmission of the virus by whitefly.

Symptoms:

• • Affected plants are stunted.
  • Wave-like folds are formed on the leaves, and leaves become severely curled.
  • Older leaves become thickly wrinkled.
  • If the attack is heavy, the leaves die.
  • Plants develop excessive branching and loose flower and fruit-bearing capacity.
  • Folds from leaf margin towards midvein.
  • Leaves become shriveled, veins turn pale yellow and curl, and leaves turn yellow.
  • The tip leaves of affected plants have small clusters.
  • The plant is stunted, and the fruit is small.

Measures of Control:

• • Remove and destroy affected trees as soon as they are seen.
  • Collecting seeds from disease-free plants.
  • Use of resistant varieties.
  • Use insecticides like Dimethoate (Perfection), Acetaf, Tiro, etc., to control the virus carriers (whiteflies).
  • Cover the seed bed with a small mesh nylon net to produce seedlings.
  • Control whitefly by applying any insecticide like Admire (1.5 ml per liter of water) at least two times in 12 days from one week after planting till fruiting.
  • In the initial stage, remove the affected trees and bury them in the ground.
  • Maintaining a weed-free environment on the land.

5. Bacterial Wilt Disease

Symptoms of Bacterial Wilt

Description: 

Tomato wilt disease is a common and severe ailment affecting tomato plants, other solanaceous crops, and ornamentals in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. The disease thrives in high temperatures and moist soil and can persist once established. The pathogen enters through minor wounds on susceptible host plants under ideal conditions. The bacteria block the stem’s vascular tissue, cutting off water and nutrient flow, ultimately leading to the plant’s demise.

Causes:

Bacterial wilt is a soil-borne disease. It is caused by a bacteria called Ralstonia solanacearum. 

Symptoms:

• • The pathogen enters the plant through root wounds, propagates in water transport channels, and Blocks ducts. As a result, leaves and plants become green and droop.
  • Thus, the plant dies in a green state within a few days.
  • To cure this disease quickly, cut the trunk of the diseased plant with a knife about 1-2 inches above the ground. After 2-3 minutes, place it in a clean glass of water and observe the emergence of white threadlike pus. This method allows for the identification of germs.

Measures of Control:

• • Pick up and destroy diseased trees on sight.
  • Crop rotation like maize, mustard, and wheat.
  • Cultivation of disease-resistant varieties.
  • Provide moderate irrigation. If this disease is caught, stop irrigation.
  • Seed and seedling treatment (streptomycin, streptomycin, or vancomycin 1 g) in 10 liters of water. You can mix it and then spray it on plants.
  • Apply and mix 5 tons of half-rotted chicken manure per hectare for at least 21 days before planting. And should be well-rotted with the soil.
  • You should apply mustard oil cake at the rate of 500 kg/ha during the last tillage of the land.
  • Ferticide Furadan 5G applied at the rate of 25 kg/ha at the time of planting or at the time of final tillage can effectively control tomato wilt and root-knot nematode.

6. Early Blight of Tomatoes:

Symptoms of Early Blight

Description:

The disease is seed-borne, and the germs of the disease can survive in soil and weeds for more than a year and may spread through the air, water, etc. This disease is caused by the fungus called Alternaria solani.

Symptoms:

• • Tomato plants die, and leaves and fruits drop due to the attack of this disease.
  • This disease is more common in mature trees. Small dark spots appear on the seedling leaves from infected seeds. Later, it spreads on ka- and leaves go. Eventually, the plant dies.
  • Older plants first develop circular spots or concentric ring-like dark spots.
  • Fruits can also develop wrinkled brown to black ovoid spots, which can cause the affected fruits to fall off before they ripen.

Measures of Control:

• • Sowing seeds treated with Prove or Vita 200 (2.5 g per kg seed).
  • You should plant the crop during the dry season in areas with common diseases by adjusting the cultivation time.
  • Use seeds collected from disease-free plants or sources.
  • Adopt crop phase.
  • If the leaves are wet for a long time, the germs of this disease increase. So do not rinse the shower.
  • Approved fungicides such as Rovral 2 grams per liter mixed with water properly for 15 days to spray.

7. Late Blight Disease of Tomatoes:

Symptoms of Late Blight

Description:

This plant disease affects Solanum species such as eggplant, pepper, nightshade weed, and petunia. However, this common disease is notorious for its devastating effects on tomato plants.

Causes:

This disease is caused by the attack of the fungus called Phytophthora infestans.

Symptoms:

• • Pale or pale green circular or irregular water-soaked spots on leaves.
  • The number and size of spots increase rapidly in foggy and cloudy weather.
  • The color of this object ranges from brown to black.
  • If the attack of the disease is more, the stem and green fruits of the tree also show symptoms of the disease.
  • Within 3-4 days of disease symptoms, the tree becomes scorched and spreads rapidly in epidemic form.

Measures of Control:

• • Collection of healthy seeds from disease-free areas.
  • Planting healthy, vigorous, and disease-free seedlings.
  • Cultivation of disease-resistant varieties.
  • The moderate use of fertilizers and irrigation.
  • Following crop rotation.
  • 2 g Mancozeb + Metalaxyl (Ridomil Gold, Cormil, Metaril) fungicides mixed per liter of water and sprayed.
  • If the attack of the disease is high, spraying with 2 grams of Secure per liter of water gives good results.

8. Tomato Bushy Stunt Disease:

Symptoms of Tomato Bushy Stunt. Image: SAU

Causes: 

Tomato Bushy Stunt is a viral disease spread by insects called leafhoppers.

Symptoms:

• • The top portion of the plant has curled, causing the leaves to curl upwards. The texture of the leaves feels similar to thick leather.

Measures of Control:

• • As soon as you see affected trees, remove and destroy them.
  • Collecting seeds from disease-free plants.
  • Use of resistant varieties.
  • To control whiteflies or leafhoppers, you can use insecticides like Dimethoate (Perfection), Acetaf, and Admire, as well as pesticides such as Tido.

9. Tomato Fruit Cracking Problem

Symptoms of Tomato Fruit Cracking. Image: SAU

Description:

Tomatoes sometimes burst due to rapid temperature changes, sudden irrigation after extreme water deficit, or plant physiology. This makes tomatoes unfit for consumption. Generally, fruit cracking is most common on large tomatoes. 

Symptoms:

Cracks usually appear at the top or stem end of the fruit.

Measures of Control:

• • Regular irrigation of the land.
  • Use balanced fertilizers.
  • Planting seedlings at the proper distance.
  • Do not suddenly apply irrigation to the land during drought.
  • Sow seeds early.
  • Check soil moisture regularly and irrigate.

Conclusion:

Various bacteria, fungi, and viruses cause the Common Disease in tomato plants described above. We discuss and field test optimal detection and integrated prevention methods for these diseases. Regularly inspect your tomato garden and take preventative measures. You can get a free consultation by sending the desired disease sample to our expert team.

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I am Gaushoul Agam,

𝐂𝐨-𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 & 𝐂𝐄𝐎,
ToAgriculture

As an experienced SA Horticulture Officer in the Horticulture Wing of the Department of Agricultural Extension, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, I am dedicated to advancing agriculture and farming.

With a mission to address global food safety challenges amid a growing population, diminishing arable land, and the impacts of climate change on agriculture, I founded ToAgriculture. Through this platform, I empower readers with modern agricultural techniques, effective pest and disease control, and sustainable agricultural management, leading to a more secure and prosperous future in agriculture.

With over four years of expertise in field crops and seven years in horticulture crops, my knowledge spans fruit and vegetable farming techniques, adept pest-disease management, proficient irrigation strategies, and the art of grafting. Join me on this journey of discovery as I share insights and experiences to guide readers toward a sustainable future.

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