Common Tomato Diseases

Keep your tomato crop in top shape by avoiding some common diseases: Early blight affects the tomato foliage, the fruits and the stems. It is caused by the Alternaria solani fungus. Symptoms include dark spots that have concentric rings. Late blight is caused by the Phytophthora infestans fungus and affects both tomatoes and potatoes. It is especially dangerous if the weather is particularly cool and wet. Bacterial wilt is caused by Ralstonia solanacearum, which enters the tomato plants roots through wounds made by insects, or natural wounds that occur where secondary roots begin to grow. Southern Blight is caused by the Sclerotium rolfsii fungus. Generally the first symptom is the drooping of the tomato leaves, which is common for other wilts.