Out
On A Limb / August 2006
Blight Bites
Hot weather and lots of rain has been ideal weather for early blight on tomato caused by the fungus, Alternaria. Gardeners will notice the fungus first causes infection on the lower leaves, causing small dark brown spots. Later, the spots enlarge with concentric rings in the spot. The plant’s leaves yellow, due to a toxin produced by the fungus. The fungus moves up the plant infecting the leaves, stems and ultimately the entire plant. Leaf drop will occur.
If the disease is severe, tomato fruit production will be severely reduced. Tomato fruit will have dark brown sunken areas where the stem is attached.
The preventive fungicide chlorothalonil (Daconil, Fungonil) or mancozeb used on a seven day schedule gives effective control. The plants should be sprayed thoroughly, both upper and lower leaves and the entire plant. Be sure to follow the label directions carefully.
Tips from the WV Extension office include irrigating early in the day to promote rapid drying of foliage and controlling insect feeding. Healthy plants with adequate nutrition are less susceptible to the disease, so a general all around plant food application may help ward off the blight. Hand picking diseased foliage may slow the rate of disease spread, but, unfortunately, cannot be relied upon for control.
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