Is this Fusarium wilt?

hunter · July 20, 2008

Over the past week, I've noticed three previously healthy plants in a raised bed row go through some changes.

A Sungold has showed some wilting of leaves. The upper leaves are still healthy, but the lower leaves wilt a bit and many exhibit some whitish streaks or growth. I also noticed some browning of branches that I originally attributed to rubbing against CRW cages. A branch looked chewed off, so it might be plausible that it got root stress from a deer yanking on it.

The other two plants exhibit a different symptom. Leaves are yellowing, although no wilting is occurring. I have been removing the yellowing leaves, but it seems that everyday there are a couple more. The branches aren't wilted, soft or show any visible signs of necrosis. Yellowing does appear to be happening on one side of the leaf first, which seems like a fusarium symptom.

Quick background, they are all growing in raised beds. The plants in their spot last year showed no signs of disease. All we started from seed by me using soilless mix. It has been very rainy, and I have been dealing with a plague of cucumber beetles.

One other observation, the affected plants are all in the same row and all have one healthy plant separating them. Also, the beds are planted back-to-back in the row, but so far the affected plants are in one row and haven't affected the ones behind them. I used the deep-hole method, so plants were oringinally planted in 2' holes filled with cow manure, compost and peat humus. I've never had a really diseases in the garden before.

If this looks like fusarium, should I pull them immediately? Is the entire bed compromised?

Thanks!

**Lee** · July 20, 2008

I don't think it is fusarium. Typically, I've seen entire branches/sides of the plant
yellow and wilt with the other side healthy and green.
This doesn't quite look like that.

One test you can try is to cut the entire stem and look at the cross section. If the "arteries" of the plant have a brown color, then it's most likely fusarium

Lee

hunter · July 20, 2008

Thanks, Lee! I'll check it out in the morning.

July 20, 2008	#1
hunter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 213	Is this Fusarium wilt? Over the past week, I've noticed three previously healthy plants in a raised bed row go through some changes. A Sungold has showed some wilting of leaves. The upper leaves are still healthy, but the lower leaves wilt a bit and many exhibit some whitish streaks or growth. I also noticed some browning of branches that I originally attributed to rubbing against CRW cages. A branch looked chewed off, so it might be plausible that it got root stress from a deer yanking on it. The other two plants exhibit a different symptom. Leaves are yellowing, although no wilting is occurring. I have been removing the yellowing leaves, but it seems that everyday there are a couple more. The branches aren't wilted, soft or show any visible signs of necrosis. Yellowing does appear to be happening on one side of the leaf first, which seems like a fusarium symptom. Quick background, they are all growing in raised beds. The plants in their spot last year showed no signs of disease. All we started from seed by me using soilless mix. It has been very rainy, and I have been dealing with a plague of cucumber beetles. One other observation, the affected plants are all in the same row and all have one healthy plant separating them. Also, the beds are planted back-to-back in the row, but so far the affected plants are in one row and haven't affected the ones behind them. I used the deep-hole method, so plants were oringinally planted in 2' holes filled with cow manure, compost and peat humus. I've never had a really diseases in the garden before. If this looks like fusarium, should I pull them immediately? Is the entire bed compromised? Thanks! Last edited by hunter; July 20, 2008 at 12:36 PM.

July 20, 2008	#2
Lee Tomatopalooza™ Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NC-Zone 7 Posts: 2,188	I don't think it is fusarium. Typically, I've seen entire branches/sides of the plant yellow and wilt with the other side healthy and green. This doesn't quite look like that. One test you can try is to cut the entire stem and look at the cross section. If the "arteries" of the plant have a brown color, then it's most likely fusarium Lee __________________ Intelligence is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put one in a fruit salad. Cuostralee - The best thing on sliced bread.