Spots on Your Tomatoes? Learning about tomato diseases and blights is half the battle

If you have ever recover yourself disappoint by the tomato harvest from your garden , you are not alone . There are around nine bacterial diseases of tomato , closely two dozen fungal disease , several 12 more viral and virusoid disease , and no small numeral of genetic , nutrient , and physiologic disorders . With these tomato trouble loaf about , even the most experient love apple gardeners can encounter a disappointing year .

The major key to defeat these Lycopersicon esculentum woes is proper diagnosis . Many love apple disease and upset exhibit similar symptoms , which can lead to a dandy deal of confusion — as is the case with early blight and late blight of tomato , for case . Confusing the two “ blight ” diseases is counterproductive . Tomato early blight is a common fungal pathogen , while tomato belated blight is an unrelated , nonfungal pathogen that is less coarse but of much greater concern . The two require different direction strategies .

Early blight symptoms . pic : Dr. Parthasarathy Seethapathy

Late blight symptoms . exposure : courtesy of G. J. Holmes

The salutary mode to get an accurate diagnosis is through a Cooperative annex – base plant diagnostic clinic , available in most states . Having confirmation of the disease(s ) in your garden not only helps you get a line what the disease look like , but most accurately guide your decisions for direction and choosing resistant varieties next time of year . Even to the highly trained eye , diagnosis of most tomato disease expect laboratory work .

Because of the craw ’s popularity across both farming and the home garden , most state Cooperative Extension services also have first-class regionally specific fact sheets and web log articles about tomato culture and cuss management . These resources are peculiarly useful because they are usually written by local experts who are familiar with the coarse trouble of their realm . To find them , research online using keywords such as “ Tomato disease symptoms Ext . ” Or better yet , throw in the name of a specific disease or your state . add up “ Ext ” into your search is a pro tip that puts all the site from Department of State extension service at the top of your hunting result and greatly helps filter out less reliable results .

One of my best-loved resourcefulness can be regain rapidly by searching online for “ Cornell Tomato Diagnostic Key . ” This internet site allows you to narrow down pests and disease symptoms found on what part of the plant is affected . The tomato crop Sir Frederick Handley Page at Penn State University ’s PlantVillage website also has very helpful information on worldwide pestilence of tomato , include insects and mites . Another favourite resource is theSeminis Tomato Disease Field Guide , a 168 - pageboy eBook you may find online by a straightaway search . If you want a professional resourcefulness meet with first-class photographs and description of all major tomato disease and disorders , including food and physiologic symptom , look no further . And the best part — it is usable for complimentary !

— Matthew Borden , DPM , is a flora health consultant specializing in diagnostics and integrated management of landscape painting plant blighter and diseases .

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