How to Kill Fusarium Wilt

Tomato plants die from the bottom up when they contract fusarium wilt.

Plant diseases can confound the average gardener because so many exist and so many symptoms can manifest themselves. Fusarium wilt is a fungal disease that commonly attacks tomatoes, potatoes, peppers and eggplant. It enters plants through their roots, causing plant vessels to become clogged. This condition causes the plant to wilt because it cannot get the water it needs. This disease results in lower leaves yellowing and dying, followed by death of the entire plant if you don't treat it.

Things You'll Need

• Knife
• Sulfur
• Clippers or scissors
• Bleach
• Bowl
• Rag

Instructions

1. Examine your tomato, potato, pepper and eggplant plants to determine whether they carry the fusarium fungus. If you discover yellow leaves at the base of any plant, cut a piece of the main stem lengthwise; if you see dark brown streaks inside, your plant could be infected.

2. Dust affected plants with organic sulfur dust to slow the progression of this disease. Unfortunately, no fungicides are approved for treating fusarium wilt.

3. Remove infected plants after they die or after you harvest their fruit. Destroy infected plants and plant parts by burning them or sending them to your landfill; Do not add infected plants to a compost pile or use them as mulch.

4. Prune infected leaves and branches of your infected plants as soon as they begin to show symptoms. Sterilize your clipper or scissor blades by wiping them with a rag you dip in a solution of household bleach and water. Use one part bleach to nine parts water and wipe the blades after every cut to prevent the spread of this disease.

5. Fumigate the soil in cases of severe infestations of fusarium wilt.

Tips & Warnings

• Plant varieties of tomatoes, potatoes, peppers and eggplant that are resistant to the fusarium wilt disease. Heirloom tomatoes are more susceptible, while some newer hybrid varieties resist the disease.

• Prevention is the best cure. Keep plants healthy by adding organic compost into the soil where they grow, clear weeds from the growing area, water and fertilize your plants correctly, and leave space between plants to promote good air circulation. Controlling insect pests is also important.

• Short of fumigating your soil, no reliable remedy exists for fusarium wilt.

• If you find that fusarium wilt exists in any of your tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, eggplant or other crops, do not plant any of the same type of plant in their area the following season. Rotate your crops with non-solanaceous crops, cereals and grasses. Also, avoid planting strawberries and raspberries in infected soil.

References

• Ohio State University Extension; Fusarium and Verticillium Wilts of Tomato, Potato, Pepper and Eggplant; Sally A. Miller et al.
• Colorado State University Extension; Recognizing Tomato Problems; B. Edmunds et al.; May 2009
• University of California, Davis UC IPM Online: Tomato Fusarium Wilt