Diseases and Pests

Fusarium Wilt

The symptoms normally start on one side of the plant, where the leaves begin to wilt and sometimes develop a “yellowish” or bronze coloration. Caused by a soil-borne fungus, this disease causes slow “yellowing” and drying of the leaves. On the affected side of the plant, there is an uniform chocolate brown discoloration of the entire vascular tissue. This symptom typical to Fusarium is in contrast with the black streaking (lines) of bacterial wilt. The unilateral appearance of the symptoms and vascular discoloration can cause confusion between Fusarium Wilt and bacterial wilt. Nonetheless, the “bacterial streaming” described for bacterial wilt is a reliable way to distinguish between these two diseases. Some roots on the affected side simply die. Fusarium Wilt, like bacterial wilt, is usually accompanied by root knot nematode infestations.

The fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. nicotianae can survive in the soil for 10 years or more, and it is a parasite that enters roots through wounds caused by nematodes, or other root damages, and reaches the vascular system and spreads through the vessels, blocking them partially and reducing the plant’s water supplies.

Spreading of the fungus to other fields is through infected plants or plant material of tobacco, vegetables, potatoes or other weeds that are hosts of the disease. Therefore, it is important to sanitize tractors and implements after working in infected areas.

The best method to avoid Fusarium infestations is the use of tolerant cultivars. The use of nematicides and crop rotation could also be beneficial for areas seriously infected with nematodes and Fusarium.

ProfiGen released cultivars with good tolerance to Fusarium Wilt.

Symptom disease pictures:

Visual symptom of Fusarium Wilt in Burley tobacco

Brown discoloration beneath the woody layer of the bark and at leaf insertion into stem

Affected woody tissue (dark) in contrast with healthy tissue

Fusarium symptom in plant susceptible to root knot nematodes

Diseases and Pests

Fusarium Wilt

See also

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