Verticillium Wilt

An Intro to Verticillium Wilt

Verticillium Wilt is a fungal disease affecting the vascular system of host plants. It is caused by three species of the Verticillium genus. Tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, and peppers are most vulnerable. The disease obstructs the flow of nutrients through the xylem, resulting in wilting of the leaves and stem and eventually the death of the plant. Symptoms look very similar to Fusarium Wilt, but verticillium can kill small plants very quickly. Tissue discoloration will be evident if the stem of an infected plant is cut.

CONDITIONS

Verticillium is even hardier than Fusarium and thrives at cooler temperatures. It can survive very cold--even freezing--conditions.

TRANSMISSION

The fungus is transmitted through contact with infected soil or water and through root-to-root contact. Some types of insects can also spread the disease from plant to plant.

MANAGEMENT

Like Fusarium Wilt, there is no practical cure for an infected plant. The fungus continues to live in the soil after a plant is dead and can infect any new plants it makes contact with. Farmers often use crop-rotation as a strategy for minimizing the spread of verticillium. Verticillium does not tolerate long periods of flooding, and continued drowning of soil over a long period of time might be one way of ridding it of the fungus.

AVOIDING VERTICILLIUM

The best way to avoid verticillium is to plant cultivars that have been bred to resist it. CLICK HERE for a complete list of Verticillium-Resistant Tomato Cultivars.

NOTABLE VERTICILLIUM SPECIES

V. dahliae, V. albo-atrum, and V. longisporum are the three well-known species.