Despite the expressed insecticidal properties of tomato leaves used to control various pests of other plants, often the tomatoes themselves are attacked by diseases and pests. Fortunately, there are many means of struggle, including folk, with some or other pests and diseases of tomatoes.
Common diseases of tomatoes and methods of fighting them
The first and most recognizable in the list of diseases of tomatoes is late blight . This ailment, the causative agent of which is the fungus, affects the entire plant - its stems, leaves and fruits. Often the disease spreads from the nearby potatoes and gradually destroys the harvest of the tomato.
First, spots appear on the leaves of tomatoes, which soon dry up and disappear, then the disease spreads to the rest of the bush. Fortunately, often the fruits have time to mature before the blight spreads massively.
The main preventive method of combating late blight is the isolation of potatoes from tomatoes. And if the infection has occurred, it remains only to spray the beds with infusion of garlic, Bordeaux liquid and a solution of table salt.
Another disease of tomatoes is vertex rot . It is manifested by the appearance of yellowish-green watery spots at the top of the fruit, which then turn brown and begin the process of decay. This disease is caused by bacteria, preserved on weeds and remains of previous plants.
Favorable factors for the disease are dampness. It is true that in the greenhouses the disease develops most in conditions of high temperatures and low humidity. The situation is aggravated by the lack of soil in an element such as potassium.
A proven method of combating vertebrate rot is spraying tomatoes from the disease with solutions of calcium chloride, Bordeaux fluid , phytosporin. As a preventive measure, periodic application of phosphate-potassium fertilizers to the tomato patch and seed treatment before planting are recommended.
No less common disease - a brown leaf spot . The cause of it is a pathogen-fungus, affecting leaves, stems and sometimes fruits. The defeat begins with the lower leaves with a gradual spreading upward. Everything happens at the stage of fruit ripening. Means of combating the disease - treatment with phytosporin and foundation.
Also often we see brown spotting on macaroni (macrosporiosis) . It affects leaflets, stems and fruits, expressing itself in the form of large brown-brown spots with characteristic concentric circles. Processing spots should be a copper-soap solution (20 g of copper sulfate and 200 g of soap per bucket of water).
Other unpleasant diseases of tomatoes
Sometimes tomatoes are exposed to other dangerous diseases. For example, spotted fruit ripening , when yellow spots appear on the fruit surface, gradually becoming transparent. Under the damaged skin is a dead tissue. Prevention of this phenomenon is the top dressing of tomatoes with potassium nitrate.
It is also often possible to observe on fruits the so-called
When the tomato is affected at the seedling stage, the root neck becomes dark, thin and rotten, this is called the black leg . Methods to combat the disease are in moderate watering of plants, observance of a sufficient distance between the shoots. And for prophylaxis, trichodermine is first introduced into the soil for seedlings.