Fusarium Wilt

A vascular wilt caused by a fungal agent that is similar to verticillium wilt is fusarium wilt. There are many plant diseases caused by fungi and this is one such disease caused by a fungus Fusarium oxysporum. It affects plants of any age and is more commonly seen affecting young roots.

Pathogenesis
The disease is most commonly caused by Fusarium oxysporum. This fungal agent spreads by microcondia, macrocondia and chlamydospores. This soil pathogen is a saprophyte that feeds on dead and decaying organic matter. The fungi enters the root system of the plants and blocks the conducting vessels. This causes the leaves to turn yellow and wilt. The young leaves are affected and they die soon. A fusarium spore can survive in soil for many years and spreads easily by water, insects and plant equipment. The fungus is more viable in hot weather and becomes destructive when the temperature of the soil becomes 80º F. As the infection grows, it causes the plant to have a stunted growth and ultimately die.

Host Plants
There are different host plants that are affected by this disease. These plants suffer from wilting, necrosis, chlorosis, premature leaf drop, stunting, damping off, etc. There are over 100 forma speciales division of Fusarium oxysporum. Most of these are specific pathogens to certain host plants. Let us have a look at the different host plants and their causative agent.

In Tomato
In tomato the disease is caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici. It causes the plant leaves to turn yellow. This tomato plant disease causes the plant to droop on one side and develop wilting, stunting, leaf death, reduction in fruit production and browning of vascular system.

In Sweet Potato
In sweet potato, the disease is caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. batatas. The disease spreads when the spores or mycelia enter the vascular wounds of the plant. The symptoms include leaf chlorosis, leaf drop and stunting.

In Melon
It is caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis. It causes chlorosis, stunting, wilting in mature plants. Seedling suffers from damping-off.

In Pepper
In pepper, the infection is caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. capsici. The plant develops yellow leaves, wilting of upper leaves, red-brown streaks on the vascular tissues.

In Eggplant
In eggplant, the infection is caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melongenae. The fusarium wilt in eggplant causes wilting and yellowing of leaves. The leaves become dull green or brown in color and droop on the stems. They do not fall off and remain attached to the plant.

Treatment
This disease commonly affects potato, tomato, eggplants and pepper. Thus, it is important to know treatment to control the spread of disease. You can try control by purchasing resistant varieties of the crop plants. Spot the plants affected with the fungus and destroy them immediately. Grow your plants in well-drained soil to prevent Fusarium to get a foothold in the garden. One of the important aspects of control is plant rotation. This will help stop recurring Fusarium infection on your plants. You should use systemic fungicides, flood fallowing, etc. to get rid of the disease. Clear away all dead and decaying organic matter as well as plastic garbage in the soil to prevent Fusarium.

You need to try different methods and fungi resistant varieties. This was all about the disease and control. This is a highly damaging plant disease that causes loss of crops and decrease in fruit production. Make sure you take precautions to prevent the spread of the infection in your garden.