![]() ![]() ![]() Two different species but the same genus. It is often confused with Septoria leaf spot, Verticillium and Fusarium wilts, and bacterial leaf spot.Įarly blight tomato infection is caused by the fungus Alternaria tomatophila and Alternaria solani. This fungus first attacks the lower leaves of tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, etc., and moves up the plant. It also affects plants like peppers, potatoes, eggplants, and other members of the nightshade family. What Is Early Blight?Įarly blight is a fungal pathogen of tomatoes. Here’s how to watch for signs of early blight and keep it in check. If left unchecked, it can destroy your tomato plants and severely hamper your harvest. Varietal characteristics, cold temperatures, or reduced lightĭamage most common on the first cluster of fruitsĬool temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, CatfacingĬoncentric and radial cracks on ripe fruit.Early blight of tomatoes is a common issue that many tomato gardeners face. Low sunlight, plant crowding, excessive nitrogen, insufficient ripening time, high temperaturesĮspecially on large-fruited and plum-type varieties, late in the growing season Low potassium levels in fruits environmental stress Varietal characteristic often affects large-fruited varieties Typically on surfaces exposed to full sunlight due to defoliation Olive-green to black, oily-looking lesions wet rots develop under favorable conditionsĭark, leathery lesions on the fruit bottom. Soft rot circular, brown/black, shrunken lesions on ripening fruit. ![]() Yellow or white spots or blotches beneath fruit skinĭark, leathery lesions may be shrunken a “bull’s eye” pattern may be visible usually at the stem end Small raised brown spots larger than bacterial speck lesions Pecked, torn, or chewed fruits often one “strike” per fruit more noticeable during droughtĪnimals ( birds, squirrels, groundhogs, deer ) Poor pollination/aborted fruits with temperature extremesĬlimb onto mature plants to feed on fruitīore deeply into young, green fruit fruits ripen prematurely secondary rots often develop Gray or black caterpillars feed on young or mature plants at night Mid to late summer pest very large with red or black “horn” strip foliage off branches Small, shiny dark insects that jump when disturbed Wilting of lower branches first plants recover at night discolored stem tissueĭark canker forms at the soil line followed by plant collapse Leaves brown and die lesions extend to stems Herbicide damage ( 2,4-D, glyphosate, dicamba, and others) Leaves become narrow, twisted, crinkled, curled, or finely divided Lower leaf curling upward during hot weatherĭamage on new growth. Small, soft, pink or green insects on young growth Primarily on transplants (leaf undersides) ![]() Older leaves first, then newer leaves: nitrogen Interveinal yellowing: potassium, iron, magnesium, or manganese. Tiny yellow spots (stippling) leaves may appear dirty on the undersides Lower leaves yellowing and stems wilting, internal stem tissue discoloredįusarium wilt is more common than Verticillium Tiny, dark brown circular spots that develop yellow rings (halos)ĭark, raised spots on upper surfaces caused by excessive moistureĪdvanced symptoms of various fungal and bacterial diseasesĭark brown blotches on leaf tips and margins that enlarge rapidly, producing a water-soaked appearanceīrown-black cankers on the lower stem, followed by plant wilting Small, round tan/gray spots with dark margins on lower leaves Small, brown lesions with yellow halos that rapidly enlarge “bull’s-eye” pattern within lesions. This text table includes the most common problems of tomatoes described above, as well as minor, occasional problems of lesser significance. ![]()
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