Fusarium wilt of plants: signs of disease occurrence

Fusarium wilt, or fusariosis, is an infectious fungal disease that affects a wide variety of plant cultures. Causes its causative agents of fungal etiology (imperfect fungi Fusarium), which in nature there are about 70 species. They can manifest themselves as parasites or semi-parasites, saprophytes or symbionts, but many years of research have shown that the disease mainly affects plants weakened by other factors.

The causative agents most often penetrate the plant through the root system and subsequently cause its death. Inside the vascular system develops a large branched mycelium, so that the affected plant dies. Fusarium wilt develops very quickly, in fact it occurs a few days after infection.

The disease is common in all climatic zones. In our country most often occurs in the south, southeast or in the Far Eastern regions. On average, in the most unfavorable years, the yields of different crops can be reduced by 40%.

Fusarium wilting cucumber at an early stage can be diagnosed by the drooping top in hot hours. If the disease occurs in acute form, then the plant fades completely and instantly. The root system suffers - the main rhizome dies off, but the lateral processes partially retain viability.

In tomatoes, fusarium wilt begins with a change in the color of the lower leaves. They become chlorotic and drooping. With the development of the disease, the color of the veins changes - they acquire a brown color. Gradually, all the leaves begin to die, necrosis appears.

Fusarium wilting of strawberries begins with the withering away of the tissues along the edge of the leaves and a slight withering. Then the petioles and leaves become brown, and the rosette loses its elasticity and falls apart. Perhaps the appearance of rot at high humidity. The whole plant dies after about 1.5 months.

In general, it can be noted that fusarium wilt can occur at any stage of the plant's life cycle, but most often it occurs during the flowering period.

How does infection occur?

The main source of infection is contaminated soil. Therefore, plants in greenhouses suffer most often, where the soil does not change and the crop rotation is not applied. Another cause of fusariosis is contaminated seeds. Mushrooms develop and grow with the plant, and then destroy it.

Fusarium wilt: prevention and control measures

Etching of the planting material will prevent the possibility of introducing pathogens onto the seed beds. Good soil digging, loosening, substitution of the substrate, rotation and disinfection of the tool also reduce the possibility of the appearance of the disease. Mushrooms develop well at high air temperature (about 28 ° C), high humidity and short light days. Therefore, it is necessary to ventilate the greenhouses well. As a preventive measure, you should inspect the beds once a week and identify the affected plants. Ill specimens are removed and burned. Good results are shown by preliminary steaming of soil and its disinfection with special biological preparations based on fungal antagonists. From chemical preparations it is possible to apply "Привекур".