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