septoria leaf spot or bacterial speck

TightenUp · June 17, 2013

whats the easiest was to tell which disease is present?

i've been very actively spraying with actinovate, exel lg and molasses and my plants look great. my brother-in-law on the other hand doesn't seem to think its worth his time and now has some disease on the lower parts of his plants. he still says "ah its normal and the rest of the plants look fine" but i know otherwise. i'm also seeing what appears to be herbicide damage

based on some quick research(google images) it appears to be one of these two problems. i'm leaning towards bacterial speck but just wondering if anyone has a tip for differentiating these common diseases?

barkeater · June 18, 2013

Most all unsprayed tomatoes eventually contract Septoria Leaf Spot and Early Blight, the wetter and more humid, the earlier it happens.

The biggest difference is the yellowing of the leaves that occurs with Septoria, and the spots are much more numerous than with Speck. Septoria usually starts on the oldest leaves while Speck can be on old or young leaves and on the fruit.

bcday · June 18, 2013

What barkeater said. Septoria usually starts at the bottom of the plant and works its way up. The diseased leaves dry up and fall off as it progresses so you end up with tomatoes hanging off a bare stem and just a few green leaves at the top of the plant. Also, if it is bacterial speck you will see it on the fruit as well as other parts of the plant. You may see septoria on the stem of the fruit but not usually on the fruit itself.

RayR · June 18, 2013

Septoria lesions will have a tan or gray center and a dark spot in the very middle which is the fruiting body of the fungus. You may need a good 10x or better magnifier to see that.

TightenUp · June 18, 2013

sounds like septoria but i'll go back for another look. its def starting at the bottom and the leaves are turning yellow. i dont spend much time in his garden as i have 3 of my own to maintain.

this is a good sign for the actinovate, exel lg, and mollasses regimen. i'm only a few miles down the road from him and my plants look beautiful showing no signs of disease. i've sprayed at a minimum of once a week with the occasional spray within 4-5 days of each other.

Paradajz · June 18, 2013

bacterial spot is a spot, septoria is like a very small small micro- hill: fungus makes a hump in the center, often visible, with a lens always.
at very early stages septoria will be on the back side of a leaf.

br

June 17, 2013	#1
TightenUp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Jersey Posts: 1,183	septoria leaf spot or bacterial speck whats the easiest was to tell which disease is present? i've been very actively spraying with actinovate, exel lg and molasses and my plants look great. my brother-in-law on the other hand doesn't seem to think its worth his time and now has some disease on the lower parts of his plants. he still says "ah its normal and the rest of the plants look fine" but i know otherwise. i'm also seeing what appears to be herbicide damage based on some quick research(google images) it appears to be one of these two problems. i'm leaning towards bacterial speck but just wondering if anyone has a tip for differentiating these common diseases? __________________

June 18, 2013	#2
barkeater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NE Kingdom, VT - Zone 3b Posts: 1,439	Most all unsprayed tomatoes eventually contract Septoria Leaf Spot and Early Blight, the wetter and more humid, the earlier it happens. The biggest difference is the yellowing of the leaves that occurs with Septoria, and the spots are much more numerous than with Speck. Septoria usually starts on the oldest leaves while Speck can be on old or young leaves and on the fruit. __________________ barkeater

June 18, 2013	#3
bcday Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NY z5 Posts: 1,205	What barkeater said. Septoria usually starts at the bottom of the plant and works its way up. The diseased leaves dry up and fall off as it progresses so you end up with tomatoes hanging off a bare stem and just a few green leaves at the top of the plant. Also, if it is bacterial speck you will see it on the fruit as well as other parts of the plant. You may see septoria on the stem of the fruit but not usually on the fruit itself. Last edited by bcday; June 18, 2013 at 11:18 AM.

June 18, 2013	#5
TightenUp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Jersey Posts: 1,183	sounds like septoria but i'll go back for another look. its def starting at the bottom and the leaves are turning yellow. i dont spend much time in his garden as i have 3 of my own to maintain. this is a good sign for the actinovate, exel lg, and mollasses regimen. i'm only a few miles down the road from him and my plants look beautiful showing no signs of disease. i've sprayed at a minimum of once a week with the occasional spray within 4-5 days of each other. __________________

June 18, 2013	#4
RayR Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Posts: 2,466	Septoria lesions will have a tan or gray center and a dark spot in the very middle which is the fruiting body of the fungus. You may need a good 10x or better magnifier to see that.

June 18, 2013	#6
Paradajz Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Montenegro Posts: 275	bacterial spot is a spot, septoria is like a very small small micro- hill: fungus makes a hump in the center, often visible, with a lens always. at very early stages septoria will be on the back side of a leaf. br