PESTS AND DISEASES IN TOMATOES AND RELATED CROPS


The farmers guide Uganda in its bid to let farmers embrace Agriculture as a business brings you a insight into the diseases that affect tomatoes and related crops
Non Infectious Diseases
1.1 Blossom End Rot
– Caused by physiological abnormality. In this case, a calcium deficiency brought on by fluctuating soil moisture, especially moisture stress
– Contributing factors are the use of excessive nitrogen fertilizer (especially ammonium) and root pruning
Control
– Protect the roots – better roots prevents BER
– Use a fertilizer high in phosphorus such as super phosphate and containing
Nitrate
– Keep plants uniformly supplied with water –avoid wide cycles of wet and dry
–
1.2 Cat Face
• This abnormality generally develops on the blossom end of the fruit, resulting in puckered, swollen protuberances and deep cavities.
• Cool weather at blossom time may cause this abnormality.
Control
• Some varieties are more susceptible to cat-face than others
1.3 Growth Cracks
Cracks frequently develop on the stem end of fruits ripening during hot, rainy weather
• These conditions promote rapid growth
• Cracks may radiate away from the stem end or form in concentric bands around the stem end
• Cracks are most severe when wet weather follows a dry period
Control
– Varieties differ in their susceptibility to growth cracks, and this information is frequently part of the variety description
1.4 Physiological leaf roll
Physiological leaf roll
• Leaf roll develops in rainy periods
• The lower leaves roll upward until the edges touch and become thick and
leathery
• Leaf roll is favored by cool wet weather, excessive fertilizer and pruning
Control
• It has no serious effect on plant growth or yield, and usually no
management practices are required