early blight Tomato | How to Diagnose Disease & Secret of Instant Control

Early Blight Tomato

Early blight tomato is one of the most common fungal diseases, visible in the humid weather seasons wherever tomatoes are grown worldwide. Symptoms of tomato blight can easily be seen on parts,  leaves, fruits, and stems.

What is tomato blight?

Tomato Blight attack on tomato 

Early Blight Tomato  

Early blight tomato is a hazardous tomato disease. Which are spread by a special type of fungus bacteria. The early blight tomato diseases  are caused by two types of fungus;

•  Alternaria Tomatophila

• Alternaria Solani

Early blight tomato is a hazardous and poisonous disease for plants. Alternaria tomatophila fungus is the cause of this disease in plants, and in some areas, Alternaria solani is the main cause of fungal disease. Both of these fungal diseases cause irreparable damage to many other plants like potatoes, brinjal, and many other vegetables.

Tomato Early Blight Symptoms

Tomato Blight attack on tomato 

Blight attack on Green Tomato

Symptoms of early blight tomato are initially small black spots on the leaves that appear on plants near the ground. Which are brown spots about half an inch in diameter, and form round circles around them. The space around these circles turns yellow. The affected leaves then dry out. In addition, the stems that are close to the soil are involved in the same way, and their colour turns brown and then dries out. In case of a severe attack, the stem also dries out and the plants die. The effect on the fruit is noticeable brown spots on the tomato and the fruit starts to fall off on its own. In addition, the tomato melts and falls near the stem. The disease affects plants at a temperature of 15 to 20 degrees Celsius, and a temperature of 31 degrees Celsius is most suitable for this disease.

tomato rot

Early Blight of Tomato Disease Cycle

Fungus germs residues in infected old tomato crops live in the affected soil. In addition, these fungus germs can survive on tomato seeds. Infected seeds are transmitted to plants by planting cheese. This affects small plants from the beginning.  Early blight tomato germs can infect in two ways. One is the plants directly from the affected soil and the other when it is raining. So with rain, its germs can survive at a temperature of 8 to 31 degrees Celsius. They need 90% moisture and a lot of water to grow. When it rains, the desired environment is available. These germs come back to life. Spread throughout the field in just 5 to 6 days.     

  Tomato Early Blight Treatment

Choose those tomato seed varieties that have resistant to Blight to control early blight tomatoes naturally. If the blight attack has intensified on the crop, the plants should be uprooted, removed from the field, and burnt. Avoid burning infected plants in the field, and do not plant tomatoes in the affected field for at least two years. This practice will kill the fungus germs. In addition, weeds should be removed from the field as soon as possible as early blight germs can not only survive on the herbs but can also be nurtured. Avoid potassium fertilizers. Avoid going into the field if rainwater, or irrigation water is present in the field or if the field is wet due to dew. Because of this, the germs are transmitted through the feet to the whole field. Do not allow plants to touch the ground.

Tomato Blight Chemical Control 

Early Blight tomato chemical control method, tomato seeds cultivate with fungicides. 

 Choose the following spray for chemical control of early blight tomatoes.

• Chlorothalonil 250 gm per acre
• Copper Oxychloride 250gm / acre
• Cymoxanil + mancozeb 250gm / acre
• Difenoconazole + Propicnazole 75ml / acre
• Fosetyl Aluminum + Mancozeb 30gm per acre
• Metaloxl + Mancozeb 200gm per acre 

Read More About Tomato Diseases: Tomato Leaf Curl