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NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

The Nairobian

How to deal with bacterial wilt in tomatoes

Crop

By Grace Chomba | Mar 11, 2020

Bacterial wilt is a common disease affecting crops like tomatoes, tobacco, brinjal, ginger, cucumber, rice, chilli and bananas. The disease is common in moist and humid sandy soils caused by bacteria living in the soil called Pseudomonas Solanacearum.

The bacteria spread easily through contaminated irrigation water, contaminated equipment, soil and infected plant materials.

Symptoms

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The disease is easily diagnosed by suspending a clean, cut section of the diseased stem in clear water and checking for a milky slimy ooze which confirms bacteria wilt presence. Brown discolouration and decay inside the stems of infected plants. Rapid wilting and death of plants without yellowing or spotting of leaves.

According to mfarm.co.ke, the symptoms will occur in hot weather, high humidity, wet soils and or soils with high pH.

Control

Soil testing is advised to determine the presence of bacterial wilt to avoid planting crops in infested soil.

Crop rotation will help reduce the spread of the disease by controlling the bacteria build up in the soil. Ensure you don’t plant rotate tomatoes with crops like Irish potatoes, peppers and eggplants as they lead to its spread.

Planting tolerant and certified varieties can prevent the spread of the disease too.

Avoid planting in low wet areas that are prone to the disease.

Proper hygiene in all farm equipment before moving from one field to the next one.

You should visit the field regularly to check for symptoms like rapid wilting of the entire crop and dropping of vegetative parts of the entire plants even after watering.

In case of any sign of the disease, uproot and destroy the infected plant by burning and burying it. Carry the infected plants away in a container to avoid spilling the affected soil. Apply wood ash in the affected hole after uprooting. Although it has no cure, the use of copper-based fungicides is said to minimise the spread of the disease in the field.

Farmers are urged to water their plants effectively as too much watering and less watering can cause wilting.