Every self-respecting gardener strives to grow large and environmentally friendly fruits on his plot. However, quite often beginners in agriculture lose their crops due to various parasites or plant ailments. What are the main pests and diseases of tomato found in Russia and the CIS countries, experts explain.
Among the main ailments that can harm tomatoes or other soft fruits in the garden are the following lesions: various types of rot, tomato mosaic, bacterial spot. The most dangerous pests for red vegetables are the Colorado potato beetle, whitefly, mole cricket, various types of scoop butterflies, naked slugs, flies and aphids.
Tomato disease control
To determine the methods of treatment, you need to try to determine the type of damage. Visual diagnostics allows you to find out in a few seconds what pests and diseases of the tomato are present on the bushes of the plant.
There are several types of tomato rot: white, root, gray, rhizoctonia, phomosis or brown. To recognize the signs of the disease, you need to examine the roots and stems of the plant. If the tops are withered, and the bottom of the trunk is rotten - most likely, this is a white "representative" of a galaxy of ailments. Rhizoctonia manifestations are the appearance of concentric spots that have a brown tint. Damage is located on unripe fruits and measures 0.5-1.5 cm. Root rot can affect both young seedlings and an already adult plant. You can notice this disease by brown spots on the root neck of a bush or crumbling ovary. There are pests and diseases of the tomato that are specific only to tomatoes, such as viral mosaic. The leaves of a damaged plant are covered with a mesh mosaic: light green islands interspersed with dark green pieces, and yellow “strokes” may appear on the fruits.
Spotting also exists in several types: white and black. Both diseases look like gradually growing black dots. With septoria (white spotting), the spots grow in size and change from black to grayish milky, necessarily surrounded by a rich purple border. Yellow edging with silver dots on the fruit characterizes the black bacterial appearance of the disease.
Tomatoes: diseases and pests in the middle lane
Traditional insects that enjoy eating parts of tomatoes include the common Colorado potato beetle, aphids and the tender whitefly. These are very dangerouspests, as they can devour the entire soft surface of the leaf, which means a lack of various nutrients for the plant. Not inferior in damage to the large bear, which gnaws at the roots and base of plants. Scoop butterflies are at the bottom of the list of dangers for tomatoes.
Tomato pests and diseases can be quite a problem for beginner gardeners. While there is not enough experience to independently determine the problem, it is worth using a proven method. You can make a light solution of potassium permanganate and treat all plants with it, the main thing is to try not to soak the roots.
