1) Tomato Fusarium wilt is caused by the soil-borne fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici. It is specific to tomatoes and can cause 10-90% yield losses. 2) Symptoms include leaf chlorosis, wilting, and brown vascular streaking. Stems of infected plants show brown discoloration. 3) The fungus survives for over 10 years in soil or plant debris. Infection occurs through wounds and spreads systemically through the xylem. Warm temperatures and high nitrogen soils promote disease.

1. COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY
(Affiliated to Tamil Nadu Agricultural University , Coimbatore
Kullapuram (po),via vaigai Dam , Theni -625 562
SUBMITTED BY, COURSE TEACHER,
R.MALARMATHY, Dr.S.PARTHASARTHY,
2015021075 Asst.Professor(Plant pathology)
TOMATO FUSARIUM WILT

2. HISTORY:
• Fusarium wilt on tomatoes is caused by Fusarium oxysporum
f sp. lycopersici.
• It is a soil born fungus that is found throughout the united
states, especially in warm regions of the country.
• The organism is specific for tomato and is very longlived in all
regions of the united states.
• The diseases develop more quickly in soils that are high in
nitrogen and low in potassium.

3. ECONOMIC LOSSES:
• Due to high temperature and humidity Fusarium oxysporum f
sp. lycopersici can cause damage.
• It is a soil borne pathogen in the class Hyphomycetes that
cause wilt of tomato as the only host of pathogen and they
reported 10- 90% loss in yield of tomato in temperate region
due to this disease.

4. SYMPTOMS:
• The first symptom of the disease is clearing of the veinlets and
chlorosis of the leaves.
• The younger leaves may die in succession and the entire may
wilt and die in few days.
• Soon the petiole and the leaves droop and wilt.
• In young plants, symptom consists of clearing of vein let and
drooping of petioles.

5. • Growth is typically stunted and little or no fruit develops.
• Brown , vascular tissue can be found when the infected stem is
cut at its base.
• Infected plants often die before maturing.

6. SYMPTOMS OF FUSARIUM WILT
©eagri.org

7. Streaking in vascular tissue
©apsnet.org

8. SYSTEMATIC POSITION:
Kingdom: Fungi
Phylum: Ascomycota
Class: Sordariomycetes
Subclass: Hypocreomycetidae
Order: Hypocreales
Family: Nectriaceae
Genus: Fusarium
Species: Fusarium oxysporum f. sp.

9. PATHOGEN:
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Casual organism: Fusarium oxysporum f .sp.lycopersici
Mycelium is septate and hyaline. They produce macro
and micro conidia.
Micro conidia are one celled, hyaline, ovoid to
ellipsoid. Two races of pathogen have been identified.

10. LIFE CYCLE:
Agrios,2005
©agronomie.info

11. LIFE CYCLE
• Fusarium fungi survives in the soil or associated with plant debris
for up to ten years. The pathogen can colonize as well tomato roots
and then infect the xylem, where by it moves passively through the
plant vascular system.
• Usually, infection into the xylem is favoured by wounds to the roots,
including those caused by root knot nematode.
• Secondary spread of the pathogen from one plant to another seldom
occurs. However, long distance dispersal of the pathogen can occur
by movement of infested soil equipment, it has also been reported
that the pathogen can aerially disseminate under certain environment
condition.

12. FAVOURABLE CONDITIONS:
• Disease development is favored by warm temperature (27-
28 ̊c),dry weather and acidic soil (PH 5-5.6).
• Rapidly growing, highly succulent tomato plants exposed to
fetilization with ammonium nitrate are especially susceptible
to the disease.

13. MODE OF SPREAD AND SURVIVAL:
• The fungus is seed borne and soil borne.
• The fungus survives in the soil as chlamydospores or as
saprophytically growing mycelium in infected crop debris for
more than 10 years.
• One of the chief methods of its distribution is by seedling
raised in infected soil.
• Wind spores, surface drainage water and agricultural
implements also help in distribution of the pathogen from field
to field.

14. IDM:
 The affected plants should be removed and destroyed.
 Spot drench with carbendazim (0.1%) . Crop rotation with a
non-host crop such as cereals.
 To solarize the soil, you must leave a clear plastic trap on the
soil surface for 4-6 weeks during the hottest part of year. Soil
solarization will reduce or eliminate many soil inhabiting pests
including nematodes, fungi, insects, weeds and weed seeds.

15. • Mycostop is a biological fungicide that will safely protect
crop against wilt caused by Fusarium. Approved for use in
organic crop production, it can be applied as a soil spray or
drench (1-2 gm/100 sq ft) to seedlings ,vegetables. Apply
sufficient water during application to move mycostop into the
root zone.
• Avoid sowing seed produced from Fusarium infected plants.
Commercial seed is generally tested for seed borne
contamination.

16. REFERENCES
• www.tnau agriportal.com
• https://www.planetneutral.com
• Gupta V.K and Y.S paul,2008, diseases of vegetable crops,
published by kalyani publishers, second edition.
• R.S. Singh, plant diseases, Oxford and IBH publishing co. pvt.
Ltd, New Delhi, 9th edition.