Verticillium Wilt
Verticillium dahliae
moderate risk
fungus
Overview
Soil-borne fungal disease causing wilt and death of hundreds of plant species. Persists in soil for many years.
One-sided leaf yellowing and wilting. V-shaped yellow patches on leaves. Brown discoloration in stems when cut cross-section.
Prevention Strategies
- •Soil solarization
- •Resistant varieties (especially for strawberry, tomato)
- •Long crop rotation (5+ years without susceptible hosts)
- •Avoid soil from infected fields
Control Methods
- •Remove and destroy infected plants
- •Soil solarization (plastic mulch in hot weather)
- •Grafting tomatoes on resistant rootstocks
- •Metam sodium soil fumigant (commercial growers)
- •No practical cure - prevention only
Interesting Facts
- •Microsclerotia can persist in dry soil for 15 years or more
- •Over 200 plant species are susceptible
- •Soil solarization with clear plastic in summer is an effective organic management technique
- •Grafting tomatoes on resistant rootstocks is now common in commercial production