Cladosporiosis of tomatoes is a fungal disease that spreads quickly and, if action is not taken, the entire crop dies. A moist environment is considered a favorable environment for the development of brown spot. Tomatoes can get sick, growing both in greenhouses and in open ground.
Signs of illness
The fungal infection of tomatoes, cladosporiosis, is difficult to recognize in the early stages, since the color of the inside of the leaves changes. Pale areas form on the green background of the tomato leaf, which gradually become brown.Over time, yellow spots of various sizes appear on the outside of the tomato leaf, which darken as the infection spreads.
Fruits are also affected by the disease. Tomatoes do not ripen and often rot. A characteristic feature of the infection is that the pathogen can remain active in favorable conditions throughout the year. Does not die at too low or high temperatures.
Fungal spores can be brought onto a tomato bush along with gardening tools or during watering; they are easily carried by air. They can be in the ground all winter, and after planting new seedlings in conditions of high humidity, they begin their harmful activities.
In a greenhouse, the risk of tomato disease is lower, provided that the required level of humidity is maintained. If it is above 70%, the risk becomes greater. Therefore, it is very important to monitor the watering of tomatoes and timely ventilation of the room.
If measures to combat cladosporiosis were not taken at the initial stage, then tomato leaves begin to deform, curl, dry out and fall off. The ability to form fruits decreases.
Warm and humid weather contributes to the rapid spread of fungal infections. If summer is characterized by such conditions, then care must be taken to prevent cladosporiosis.
There are many ways to combat and treat tomato cladosporiosis. You can use the compositions of folk recipes, ready-made drugs, and also get acquainted with all kinds of preventive measures.
Preventive actions
Cladosporiosis of tomatoes can be prevented. How to fight so that the problem does not bother you? There are a number of preventive measures that will help prevent brown spot or reduce the risk of its development to a minimum:
- if tomatoes are grown in a greenhouse, then it is necessary to maintain air humidity within 70%;
- the greenhouse room must be ventilated and periodically disinfected;
- if there is a lot of lime in the soil, then it is useful to add sand;
- before planting tomato seedlings, it is recommended to water the soil with water adding a few drops of potassium permanganate;
- tomato bushes should be planted at a distant distance so that light and air flow freely to all parts of the plant;
- costs water the tomatoes as the soil dries out;
- In the fall, it is imperative to remove all the tops from the beds (it is better to burn them).
Mulching the soil helps reduce the risk of tomatoes becoming infected with cladosporiosis. Sawdust, chopped grass, and plastic film can be used as mulch for tomatoes.
To increase resistance to cladosporiosis, you can pour an infusion of herbs and garlic over the tomatoes. Nettle and dandelion are best suited. The herbs are crushed and thin slices of garlic are added, filled with water, and left to infuse for two days.
To a greater extent, preventive measures apply to tomatoes grown in a greenhouse.
It is in a closed room that there is a high probability of infection, which is difficult to remove. For open ground, the best preventative against cladosporiosis is the choice of a fungus-resistant variety.
Varieties with high resistance to fungus
Brown spot of tomatoes is safe for humans. However, the yield is declining and the tomatoes are much smaller than the declared size. Their taste may also suffer.
It is best to play it safe and select tomato varieties that are resistant to brown spot. For the 2018 harvest, you can choose the following varieties of tomatoes.
Pink Paradise F1 tomatoes are characterized by medium fruit ripening limits and are characterized by high yield. The stem can reach 2 meters in height. Preferably grown in greenhouses. The variety exhibits resistance to cladosporiosis. A garter, formation and removal of lateral leaves are required. The average weight of ripe pink tomatoes is 135 g.
Marissa F1 can reach a height of 3 meters, so a support for tying is installed. As the tomato grows, it is necessary to carry out pinching and formation of the stem. The tomatoes are flattened, red in color, weigh approximately 150 g. Cladosporiosis often avoids this variety.
Among tomatoes resistant to cladosporiosis, the Kukla Masha F1 variety is known. It belongs to the determinant group. The height of the bush does not exceed 85 cm. The fruit ripening period is mid-early. The round, pink fruits can weigh 250 g. The numerous harvested crops are well stored and transported.
Vezha is an indeterminate tomato variety with medium fruit ripening periods. The weight of ripe red tomatoes is approximately 110 g. They show high resistance to cladosporiosis and other diseases.
Funtik F1 is a hybrid intended for growing in greenhouses, and only the southern regions can allow tomatoes to be planted in open ground. Tomatoes begin to ripen after 129 days. The plant belongs to the indeterminate group; the stem reaches a height of 2 meters.
Octopus F1 indeterminate tomato tree, can reach a height of 5 meters. A strong support, a lot of space and light are required. Tomatoes are arranged 5-6 pieces per branch and can weigh approximately 250 g.
Fighting the disease
How to fight if fungus is found on tomatoes? In the case where brown spot of tomatoes has already appeared, control measures will depend on the stage of its development. At the initial stage, if you find leaves with light spots on a tomato bush, you need to get rid of them.
If the spotting on tomatoes is dark brown, then it is better to remove the seedling from the garden along with the roots, and it is useful to treat the remaining plants with preparations containing copper.
A fungal disease of tomatoes, such as cladosporiosis or brown spot, can be cured with folk recipes or store-bought drugs.
Homemade compositions for tomatoes against cladosporiosis.
- If brown spots are found on tomato leaves, you can use the following solution. Add 30 g of potassium chloride and 40 drops of iodine to a bucket of water. Iodine disinfects the soil and surface of plants, prevents the proliferation of spores, and reduces the risk of re-infection.
- You can add a liter of whey and 20 drops of iodine to a bucket of water. This composition saturates tomato bushes with essential nutrients, increases disease resistance and stops the spread of fungal spores.
- Yeast helps fight cladosporiosis. This component not only destroys the fungus, but also promotes the active development of the culture. You can dilute both dry and live yeast in a bucket of water.
- An infusion of wood ash can cope with cladosporiosis. It is left to infuse in water for about three days. Before treating the soil, dilute the infusion with water and add soap shavings.
- You can try alternately watering the tomatoes with a weak solution of potassium permanganate and an infusion of ash.For the infusion, you need to pour 300 g of ash into 10 liters of water, put it on the fire and, after boiling, keep it for another 15 minutes. Then leave to infuse for two days.
Among ready-made formulations for tomatoes, preparations such as Hom, Polyram, Fitosporin, Quadris are very popular and effective.
The drug Hom quite effectively protects the plant from brown spot. After treatment, a thin film is created on the leaves and stem, which protects for about two weeks. 40 g of solution are dissolved in 10 liters of water.
It is best to carry out the treatment in the evening, when there is no wind or rain.
Brown leaf spot is treated with Poliram. The granules dissolve easily in water. You can process no more than 3 times during the growing season. The validity period lasts three weeks. The advantage of the drug is that it is absolutely harmless to humans and insects, it stops the reproduction of spores and is not addictive.
The biological product Fitosporin suppresses the growth and spread of fungal infections, disinfects the soil surface, and increases plant resistance to infection. For tomatoes, you need to take 5 g of the drug per 10 liters of water.
The drug Quadris can be used both for the prevention and treatment of tomatoes. It is highly effective against fungi, destroys their spores, and does not pose a danger to the environment. Spraying can be done at intervals of two weeks.
Treatment of tomatoes for cladosporiosis is carried out by many experienced gardeners using drugs such as Trichopolum, Metronidazole, Furacilin.
It is best to water tomatoes with Metronidazole in early summer. It is recommended to dissolve 13-15 tablets of the drug in a liter of water. The resulting solution can be used to wipe the leaves themselves.
Every 10-14 days you can treat tomatoes with Trichopolum. Calculate one tablet per liter of water. The antibiotic fights many pathogens and protects against re-infection.
The drug Furacilin will help cope with cladosporiosis among tomatoes. One tablet should be dissolved in a liter of water. During the entire growing season, tomatoes can be treated with this preparation three times.
