White goo in the branch joints

obverse · January 9, 2011

Hi there,
I am a beginner without much experience of knowledge of growing tomatos. I am in Singapore; where it is hot and wet (probably like parts of florida).
Most of my plants have this white substance at branch nodes. Up close it appears to be eggs but I'm not sure. It is soft and scrapes off as a goo.
The plants have lots of garden ants - tiny black ants that you find all over this part of the world. They usually only go for anything sweet. They dont seem to go for the tomatos, but I suspect they decapitate the flowers. They are almost impossible to eliminate so management may be the only option. I have not noticed any other insects on the plants; so I dont know if this stuff is another insect egg, or if it is created by the ants.

Can anyone help?

I've put about 10 pics on photobucket is anyone wants a closer look...

Many Thanks!!
Mark
Singapore

amideutch · January 9, 2011

Welcome to Tville. It definitely looks like a deposit versus a secretion from the plant. For the ant problem you could try applying Tree Tea Oil around the base of the plant. Do not apply to the plant but around the plant. It should deter the ants and make them go else where. With the humidity you definitely should apply a fungicide periodically but don't know what is available in your part of the world. Ami

bcday · January 9, 2011

Those look like mealybugs. If you look carefully on the underside of the white fluff you may find a tiny insect. Mealybugs are sucking insects that can multiply to where they cover the plant stem, so it might be good to scrape as many of them as possible off as white goo before you have to resort to a chemical insecticide.

My guess is that the ants are farming the mealybugs for honeydew secretions in the same way that they farm aphids.

obverse · January 10, 2011

Thank you, I've read up and checked Goodle images and I believe you are right. I'm going to scrub them off with a toothbrush for a week or so to see if they can be controlled.

Thanks!
Mark

salix · January 10, 2011

I have read that a Q-tip and rubbing alcohol will take care of mealybugs. No first hand experience here, though.

alamo5000 · January 10, 2011

Welcome to the forum! AAAAHHH Singapore!!! My old home... I love Singapore.

MikeInCypress · January 11, 2011

They certainly appear to be mealy bugs. Using a Qtip dipped in rubbing alcohol touch each bit of fluff. That should take care of them. I have had them on coleus but never on Tomatoes. They can suck the life out of coleus if not controlled.

MikeInCypress

January 9, 2011	#1
obverse Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Singapore Posts: 3	White goo in the branch joints Hi there, I am a beginner without much experience of knowledge of growing tomatos. I am in Singapore; where it is hot and wet (probably like parts of florida). Most of my plants have this white substance at branch nodes. Up close it appears to be eggs but I'm not sure. It is soft and scrapes off as a goo. The plants have lots of garden ants - tiny black ants that you find all over this part of the world. They usually only go for anything sweet. They dont seem to go for the tomatos, but I suspect they decapitate the flowers. They are almost impossible to eliminate so management may be the only option. I have not noticed any other insects on the plants; so I dont know if this stuff is another insect egg, or if it is created by the ants. Can anyone help? I've put about 10 pics on photobucket is anyone wants a closer look... Many Thanks!! Mark Singapore

January 9, 2011	#2
amideutch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Germany 49°26"N 07°36"E Posts: 5,041	Welcome to Tville. It definitely looks like a deposit versus a secretion from the plant. For the ant problem you could try applying Tree Tea Oil around the base of the plant. Do not apply to the plant but around the plant. It should deter the ants and make them go else where. With the humidity you definitely should apply a fungicide periodically but don't know what is available in your part of the world. Ami __________________ Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘...Holy Crap .....What a ride!'

January 11, 2011	#7
MikeInCypress Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cypress, TX Posts: 963	They certainly appear to be mealy bugs. Using a Qtip dipped in rubbing alcohol touch each bit of fluff. That should take care of them. I have had them on coleus but never on Tomatoes. They can suck the life out of coleus if not controlled. MikeInCypress __________________ "Growing older, not up"

January 9, 2011	#3
bcday Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NY z5 Posts: 1,205	Those look like mealybugs. If you look carefully on the underside of the white fluff you may find a tiny insect. Mealybugs are sucking insects that can multiply to where they cover the plant stem, so it might be good to scrape as many of them as possible off as white goo before you have to resort to a chemical insecticide. My guess is that the ants are farming the mealybugs for honeydew secretions in the same way that they farm aphids.

January 10, 2011	#4
obverse Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Singapore Posts: 3	Thank you, I've read up and checked Goodle images and I believe you are right. I'm going to scrub them off with a toothbrush for a week or so to see if they can be controlled. Thanks! Mark

January 10, 2011	#5
salix Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: north central B.C. Posts: 2,310	I have read that a Q-tip and rubbing alcohol will take care of mealybugs. No first hand experience here, though.

January 10, 2011	#6
alamo5000 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: near Houston Texas, zone 8b/9a Posts: 114	Welcome to the forum! AAAAHHH Singapore!!! My old home... I love Singapore.