Treatment of Septoria Tomato

Septoria in tomatoes, or white spotting, is common. The main causative agent of the disease is considered the fungus Sephtoria lycopersici. It is found in areas with high levels of humidity in the air and soil.

Treatment of septoria in tomatoes

Features of the disease

The main symptom of the disease is leaf damage, which takes on a dark color and is completely saturated with moisture (on the leaf surface watery blisters form.) After a few days The sizes of such areas increase and reach a diameter of 5-7 cm. The leaves turn brown with a black border, and the central part of the affected area turns gray.

Tatyana Orlova (cand. S.-kh. Sciences):

White spots are the accumulation of mycelium and spores of the parasite, with the help of which it spreads during the growing season. Later, in the autumn, on the same mycelium, wintering bodies form rounded brown spots visible with the naked eye.

If the disease affects the stem and petioles, the spots do not acquire a round shape, but an oval shape. Small areas of fungal spores appear on them.As soon as the disease reaches the final stage, the entire leaf and stem begin to dry. As a result, the leaves fall, the bush completely dies.

Tatyana Orlova (candidate of agricultural sciences):

The harmfulness of septoria depends on the time of occurrence. Most often, this disease manifests itself in the flowering phase of the beginning of fruiting in tomatoes. But under favorable conditions, it can affect younger plants. In sheltered soil, especially in large greenhouse plants where tomatoes are cultivated year-round, septoria can be observed already in seedlings. The younger the plant affected by this disease, the more dangerous the prognosis of the course.

Causes of the disease

Favorable factors for the occurrence of Septoria are high humidity and hot weather . Such conditions contribute to the germination of spores on last year’s plant residues. After that, they are distributed by wind throughout the garden. The incubation period of the infection lasts for 1-2 weeks (it all depends on the weather). The maximum spread of tomato septoria is observed when the weather is windy or rainy.

Tatyana Orlova (candidate of agricultural sciences):

The first spots of septoria are found on the lower leaves of the tomato, because the pathogen remains on the surface of the soil and plant debris. In the protected ground, the fungus is preserved on the inner surface of cultivation facilities.

Fight against the disease

If the plant was infected with a fungal infection , it is necessary to immediately begin the fight against it. To do this, use special chemicals. It is better to give preference to the fungicides “Revus” and “Thanos”. They should be bred according to the instructions, depending on the number of tomato bushes. The optimal amount of revus is 0.5 l per 1 ha. “Thanos” should be applied about 600 g of the drug per 1 ha.

Disease prevention

The disease can be prevented

It’s much easier to worry about protection beforehand than to spend your time and energy on tomato treatment. When preparing planting material, it is important to carefully monitor the seeds. Only those that were collected from healthy tomatoes and unaffected garden plots are selected. Before planting, it is important to treat the planting material with disinfectants (Oksikhom or Fitosporin). After this procedure, the seeds are poured with water at a temperature of 60 ° C, and incubated for about half an hour. The next step is washing.It is recommended to do this only in cool water, the temperature of which is 22-25 ° C.

The best choice for the prevention of the disease is the correct choice of planting variety. It is recommended to choose only those varieties that are characterized by high resistance to fungal or viral infections.

Prevention of Septoria on tomato consists of several basic actions.

• Immediately after harvesting all the remains of the bushes must be removed, especially if the tomato was grown in the greenhouse, because in such conditions fungal infections begin to develop. It is better to deep plow the plot.
• Tomatoes and other crops should be planted at a certain distance from each other: this allows them to be protected from diseases.
• Before planting the crop in the greenhouse, do not disinfect only planting material. Even the frame and the film that covers the greenhouse should be disinfected.
• If only 1 bush has been affected, it is better to root it out and burn away from the garden: this will reduce the risk of septoria spread.
• Greenhouses should be ventilated daily so that the humidity level drops.
• If the disease is at stage 1, you can neutralize it with Bordeaux liquid.

Conclusion

In order to protect the crop from white spotting, it is necessary to monitor the level of soil and air humidity.At the first sign of illness, control measures should be taken immediately. Postponement of treatment will lead to the death of the entire crop. In the future, it is forbidden to plant crops on this site, because fungal spores remain in the soil for 2-3 years.