One plant has Something..disease or virus

mensplace · May 26, 2010

In going through my rows to add higher wires and attaching the plants, I found one plant out of all of the rest that has bright yellow leaves with black sections on the bottom fourth of the plant. No other plants have such. I don't want any disease or virus to spread...assuming that is what this is. The leaves are very clearly an unhealthy, semi-withered very bright yellow with som intermingled black, dead looking segments. Shouldn't I just jerk this one?...OR might an attempt at spraying be in order?

barkeater · May 26, 2010

Since it is only on the bottom quarter it's probably a fungus, either Septoria or Early Blight. Spraying with Daconil or Mancozeb will slow the spread. Removing the offending branches will also reduce the spore count.

Timmah! · May 26, 2010

What's the chances of getting a picture?

whistler · May 26, 2010

Can you take a sample to your local ag extension office? I did that today and learned that bugs are using my seedlings for a buffet and eating the backs of the leaves. Yuck. The lowest (and oldest) leaves look yellowed and are kind of see-thru when held up to the light. New growth is fine since it hasn't been eaten yet... I sprayed everything today with malathion per the ag guy's advice, and hope to not see any live bugs when I check the plants tomorrow.

Good luck with your plant.

b54red · May 27, 2010

If you have plenty of plants and don't really need it then I would go ahead and pull it now while we are having this short spell of low humidity. If not when the humidity returns or aphids move around it will tend to spread to other plants rather quickly if it is one of the common foliage diseases. At least that has been my experience. I have already removed a dozen plants and in all likelihood over the next couple of weeks will have to remove another dozen or two; but I have already replaced them with other plants. I have one or two badly diseased plants that I am leaving in the garden because the tomatoes are almost ready to pick.
If you decide not to pull it you should start spraying all your plants on a regular schedule to slow it down and as posted above remove the diseased portion.

May 26, 2010	#1
mensplace Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: USA Posts: 1,013	One plant has Something..disease or virus In going through my rows to add higher wires and attaching the plants, I found one plant out of all of the rest that has bright yellow leaves with black sections on the bottom fourth of the plant. No other plants have such. I don't want any disease or virus to spread...assuming that is what this is. The leaves are very clearly an unhealthy, semi-withered very bright yellow with som intermingled black, dead looking segments. Shouldn't I just jerk this one?...OR might an attempt at spraying be in order?

May 26, 2010	#2
barkeater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NE Kingdom, VT - Zone 3b Posts: 1,439	Since it is only on the bottom quarter it's probably a fungus, either Septoria or Early Blight. Spraying with Daconil or Mancozeb will slow the spread. Removing the offending branches will also reduce the spore count.

May 26, 2010	#3
Timmah! Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Elizabethtown, Kentucky 6a Posts: 754	What's the chances of getting a picture?

May 26, 2010	#4
whistler Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: PA Posts: 100	Can you take a sample to your local ag extension office? I did that today and learned that bugs are using my seedlings for a buffet and eating the backs of the leaves. Yuck. The lowest (and oldest) leaves look yellowed and are kind of see-thru when held up to the light. New growth is fine since it hasn't been eaten yet... I sprayed everything today with malathion per the ag guy's advice, and hope to not see any live bugs when I check the plants tomorrow. Good luck with your plant.

May 27, 2010	#5
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	If you have plenty of plants and don't really need it then I would go ahead and pull it now while we are having this short spell of low humidity. If not when the humidity returns or aphids move around it will tend to spread to other plants rather quickly if it is one of the common foliage diseases. At least that has been my experience. I have already removed a dozen plants and in all likelihood over the next couple of weeks will have to remove another dozen or two; but I have already replaced them with other plants. I have one or two badly diseased plants that I am leaving in the garden because the tomatoes are almost ready to pick. If you decide not to pull it you should start spraying all your plants on a regular schedule to slow it down and as posted above remove the diseased portion.