This week, we are embarking on a series of sharing some information on disease challenges that face farmers, especially greeenhouse farmers , called SPOTLIGHT.We will briefly discuss, the causes of various diseases, mitigation and control measures and best management practices for such. The SPOTLIGHT today is on BACTERIAL WILT. Bacterial wilt is one of the major diseases that affect the following crop families: Solanaceae (tomatoes, capsicum, black nightshade) Musaceae, ( bananas) and curcubitaceae (cucumber,water melon, pumkins, butter nuts). It is caused by a bacteria ,Ralstonia solanacearum.It is a soil bourne pathogen that can be detected by a lab soil test.It is advisable, however to get several independent test results from both public and private labs, to get accurate results.This is a very important task, and an error in the whole soil test process can result in huge losses. Symptoms They consist of non-yellowing and wilting of the youngest leaves at the end of the branches during the hottest part of the day.The symptoms can be confused with water stress or too much heat.The plant may seem to recover in the evening, or when tempretures are cooler.As the disease develops under favourable conditions, the dried leaves remain green, leading to general wilting and yellowing of foliage and eventually the plant dies.It is also refered to as instant death. Control 1. Once affected, there is no chemical solution or control available,however, once detected, by a thorough soil test, mitigation measures can be applied, and they include: a. Carrying out fumigation using metham sodium, or bassamid granular. b. Plant in polybags , which are fumigated using biox 4,000. c. Solarization process.All the above process should be carried out by professionals as they are risky and sensitive.If not done well, it may not be eefective. 2. Grafting with resistant rootstocks. 3. Cultural practises, that include crop rotation.It is imprtant to note that the pathogen survives in the soil for even upto 7 years, hence the rotation should be practised for atleast that long. - Hygiene and sanitation.weeds are known to host the pathogens, hence weeding and proper disposal of weeds help in managing the pathogens threshold. - water management. The disease spreads in moist environments.water management is therefore important.Ensure that the soil has proper drainage, does not hold alot of water, and there is no water logging.Ensure that the irrigation is done in the morning, and not evening. Below are some photos that show the effect. For consultation, training, project management,greenhouses, irrigation solutions,contact us on: Cell: 0726963862 email: horticrops@gmail
Posted on: Mon, 08 Dec 2014 08:47:52 +0000
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