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Mycologia, DEUTEROMYCOTINA, HYPHOMYCETALES, DEMATIACEAE .

Crops attacked: tomato .

Early blight

Identification, Description, Biology, Epidemiology, Treatement, Possible misleading, Images

[R]Description
Causes damage on seedlings(which develop dark areas on the stem at soil level and die).
On the leaves of mature plantsnecrotic black spots appear (3-6 mm). The lesions are usually round with pronounced, concentric rings surrounded by a yellow halo.They are elongated on the stem.
On the fruit the black spots (1-2 cm) are ridged, sunken, starting around the calyx scar.

[R]Biology
Survival of the fungus in the soil on plant debris as mycelium, conidia or chlamydospores.
Spreading through wind-borne and rain-borne conidia.
The disease is also seed-borne.

[R]Epidemiology
Humidity is essential for an abundant sporulation of the fungus.
The release of conidia is facilitated by dry weather conditions.
Conidial germination and penetration require cool temperatures (18 -25 °C.).
Dew and light rain (5mm) favour the spread of the disease but they have to occur repeatedly to cause its rapid development.

[R]Treatement
Use resistant cultivars.
Treat the seeds.
Remove debris after harvesting.

[R]Possible misleading
.

[R] Images

1. Alternaria solani , Early blight (VEGH I., INRA)
   Early blight on tomato Spots due to Alternaria solani on a tomato leaf.
   
2. Alternaria solani , Early blight (VEGH I., INRA)
   Early blight on tomato A spot due to Alternaria solani on a tomato.
   
3. Alternaria solani , Early blight (INRA)
   Early blight on tomato Spots due to Alternaria solani on a tomato leaflet.
   

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HYP3 on line : Species (scientific name), Diseases (common names), Glossary, Crops.

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