Wilt - most likely culprit

fortyonenorth · June 27, 2012

One of my Black Plum plants has a serious case of the wilt. This appeared yesterday, a mild day in the low 80s. I'm accustomed to Fusarium, which is often preceded by yellowing foliage and Veticillum which often strikes initially just one side of the plant. This seems different. The plant was super healthy one day - not a speck or hint of any foliar disease or any other issue. The next day, it was completely wilted - every single leaf. At first, I simply thought I had missed it on the watering rounds - it's been dry here - but that wasn't the case. Any thoughts?

bcday · June 27, 2012

See what the plant's main stem looks like at and below the soil line, see if there are any dead or brown shriveled areas there. If you want to try to save the plant, you can try cutting off and re-rooting the top or lay it down along the ground and cover a healthy portion of the stem with moist soil to encourage new roots.

Sun City Linda · June 27, 2012

Where I live my first thought would be gopher.

bcday · June 27, 2012

LOL -- that was my second thought. Do you have any gophers or other tunneling critters that would damage the plant's roots?

fortyonenorth · June 27, 2012

I should have noted: I don't think there's any mechanical damage. These are being grown in raised planting boxes, so no gophers, either.

Crandrew · June 27, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by fortyonenorth

I should have noted: I don't think there's any mechanical damage.

wait huh?

Heritage · June 27, 2012

41N,

Here too, my first thought was gopher.

My second guess is Bacterial Wilt.

Steve

Heritage · June 27, 2012

Also, if it is bacterial wilt you will want to remove the infected plant ASAP.
http://www.clemson.edu/public/regula...lt_tomato.html

fortyonenorth · June 27, 2012

Thanks Steve. I tried the test recommended on the Clemson site - suspending a piece of stem in water and looking for milky fluid. No luck, but I have a feeling you're not far off the mark. I yanked two plants that were wilted and will cross my fingers that it doesn't spread.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heritage

Also, if it is bacterial wilt you will want to remove the infected plant ASAP.
http://www.clemson.edu/public/regula...lt_tomato.html

June 27, 2012	#1
fortyonenorth Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: NW Indiana Posts: 1,150	Wilt - most likely culprit One of my Black Plum plants has a serious case of the wilt. This appeared yesterday, a mild day in the low 80s. I'm accustomed to Fusarium, which is often preceded by yellowing foliage and Veticillum which often strikes initially just one side of the plant. This seems different. The plant was super healthy one day - not a speck or hint of any foliar disease or any other issue. The next day, it was completely wilted - every single leaf. At first, I simply thought I had missed it on the watering rounds - it's been dry here - but that wasn't the case. Any thoughts?

June 27, 2012	#2
bcday Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NY z5 Posts: 1,205	See what the plant's main stem looks like at and below the soil line, see if there are any dead or brown shriveled areas there. If you want to try to save the plant, you can try cutting off and re-rooting the top or lay it down along the ground and cover a healthy portion of the stem with moist soil to encourage new roots.

June 27, 2012	#3
Sun City Linda Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: SoCal Inland Posts: 2,705	Where I live my first thought would be gopher.

June 27, 2012	#7
Heritage Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 1,255	41N, Here too, my first thought was gopher. My second guess is Bacterial Wilt. Steve