by Matt Gibson
About Bacterial Wilt
Bacterial wilt is a tomato disease that iscaused by the pathogen bacterium Ralstonia Solanacearum. It is very common inmoist sandy soils and humid environments, such as the conditions of the coastalsouth of the US. The bacteria resides in the soil and works its way veryquickly through the roots and up the stem of the plant.
Bacterial wilt is often the result of a plantbeing injured, cut, or weakened by insects or wear and tear from handling. Wheninfected, the bacteria builds up and clogs up the stems of the plant, keepingwater and nutrients from being able to reach the leaves, effectively killingthe plant.
Causes And Symptoms of BacterialWilt
The youngest leaves show signs of infectionfirst, and begin to wilt during the hottest part of the day. This often goesunnoticed as the leaves stay green during the infection. Eventually, thewilting will become obvious, but once you notice it happening, it is likelythat the entire plant has begun to wilt and will soon die. Bacterial wilt tendsto occur when the weather is extremely hot and there is a high level ofhumidity from recent rainfall, leaving the soil wet. Bacterial wilt is alsocommon in areas with a high soil pH.
Bacterial wilt can be diagnosed by cutting thestem at the base of the plant and searching for discolored tissue. Suspendsuspect stems in a glass of water to test for bacterial wilt. Infected stemswill ooze a slimy, white substance into the water within minutes of beingsubmerged.
Treatment and Control ofBacterial Wilt
There are no known effective chemical controlsfor bacterial wilt. As the plants die, the bacterial pathogen is released intothe soil, so the most important thing you can do to prevent the spread ofbacterial wilt is to remove diseased plants as soon as you notice wilting. Donot compost these plants, but discard them immediately and clean and sanitizeany tools used in the removal and disposal process.
So, since there is no way to cure infectedplants, the best way to control bacterial wilt is to practice preventionmethods. Use good cultural controls to keep bacterial wilt out of your gardenand off of your tomatoes. Here’s a few ways that you can prevent bacterial wiltissues:
- Rotate your crops regularly
- Install raised beds
- Space plants out evenly to improveair circulation
- Test soil and amend to a pH of 6.2to 6.5 for tomatoes and most garden vegetables
- Wash hands and gardening toolsafter handling infected plants
- If problems persist with soilborne disease, try shifting to container gardening using a sterile commercialpotting mix.
Commonly Asked Questions AboutBacterial Wilt
What causes bacterial wilt intomatoes?
Bacterial wilt is a disease caused by thepathogen bacterium Ralstonia Solanacearum and is most commonly found in moistand humid sand-heavy soils. Bacterial wilt, unlike fusarium wilt, attacks theplant from the bottom up. It resides in the soil, and quickly attacks thetomato plant from the roots, working its way up the stem and to the leaves ofthe plant, causing them to wilt. It is spread by contaminated water, soil,infected plant material, and equipment.
What causes wilt disease?
Wilt is a symptom of plant disease that is dueto water loss in stems and leaves, and a result of bacteria, fungi, and viruses spreading toplants.
What does tomato wilt look like?
The first symptoms of tomato wilt appear asfruit begins to mature, including yellowing and browning leaves, stunted leafgrowth, and wilting foliage. First signs are the lower leaves of the plantturning yellow. This sometimes occurs only on one side of the plant, or on oneside of a particular branch. Yellowing is followed by leaf and stem wilting.
How do you revive a wilted tomatoplant?
To quickly revive a wilting tomato plant,water it immediately. Move the tomato plant if it is anywhere near a walnuttree, as the walnut tree emits a toxin called juglone, which enters the soiland can affect surrounding plants. Fertilize the soil before planting tomatoesand again when it starts to set fruit.
This information does not apply to tomato plants that are wilting due tobacterial wilt. You cannot revive a plant that has been infected with bacterialwilt. The best thing to do when you have a tomato plant infected with bacterialwilt is to dispose of it immediately.
How do you fix wilting tomatoes?
The most common reason for wilting tomatoes isdehydration. A lack of sufficient water can have a tomato plant, and its fruitshriveling up in no time. Make sure you are providing your plant with enoughwater to keep fruit from wilting. Tomatoes need at least two inches of waterper week, be it provided by rainfall or by manual watering.
How do you control wilt disease?
There are many practices you can do to help control and prevent wilt disease. Plant resistant varieties when available. Rotate crops often. Remove any infected plants from the garden immediately upon notice. Clean and sterilize any garden tools used to remove infected plants. Use an insect killer to control garden pests which spread diseases that lead to wilt. If problems persist, try installing raised beds and using new soil. Alternatively, you could try container gardening for your tomato plants. Test and amend to bring soil to a pH range between 6.2 and 6.5. Space out new plants to give each plenty of room in order to promote better air circulation. If you have tried everything and still are having issues with wilt, solarization of your garden beds may be the answer.
Want to learn more about tomato bacteria wilt?
Gardening Know How covers Wilting Tomato Plants
Planet Natural Research Center covers Fusarium Wilt
Today’s Homeowner covers Bacterial Wilt in Tomato Plants
Tomato Dirt covers Bacterial Wilt
