Tomato, also known as "Solanum lycopersicum," is widely cultivated in many regions. However, improper management of tomato cultivation can lead to diseases, with common ones including tomato stem rot. Let's explore the causes and control methods of tomato stem rot together.
Causes and Control Methods of Tomato Stem Rot
Symptoms of Tomato Stem Rot: In the initial stages, there are no obvious external lesions on the stem base. Subsequently, the cortex of the stem base turns light brown to black-brown. The leaves above the diseased area turn yellow, wilt, and later turn yellow-brown, with many remaining on the branches without falling off.
Causes of Tomato Stem Rot:
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Inadequate Sunlight: After transplanting, outdoor tomatoes may become weak and susceptible to disease due to insufficient sunlight, rainy weather, or large temperature fluctuations.
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Untreated Soil: Stem rot is a soil-borne disease, with the pathogens surviving and overwintering in the soil as mycelia and sclerotia. If the soil is not disinfected before planting or if disinfection is incomplete, or if tomatoes are planted successively in greenhouse soil, the pathogens may accumulate in the soil, leading to immediate disease onset when favorable conditions arise.
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Early Planting: Planting tomatoes in greenhouses too early in the winter may lead to disease onset at the stem base due to decreased root aeration after excessive irrigation following low temperatures during the seedling stage.
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Weak Plant Growth: Weak tomato plants provide an opportunity for soil-borne pathogens to infect them.
Control Methods of Tomato Stem Rot:
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Soil Disinfection: It is best to conduct high-temperature greenhouse sealing during the hot summer season. Alternatively, before planting tomatoes, the soil can be treated with formalin, formaldehyde, carbendazim, or other agents, followed by soil cultivation, mulching, and planting.
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Root Dipping: When planting purchased tomato seedlings, dip the roots in a 72.2% carbendazim (Benomyl) solution at a dilution of 700 times before planting.
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Chemical Control: To control tomato stem rot, spray or irrigate with a solution of 100 times cyanocarb (Kocide) + 1000 times garlic oil + 600 times fulvic acid + 2000 times organosilicon. Spray 2-3 times, with an interval of 2-3 days between each spray.
Above are the causes and control methods of tomato stem rot. Proper disease prevention and control measures are of great help to the quality and yield of tomatoes, so it is essential to pay attention to them.
