Verticillium wilt is a serious plant disease caused by soilborne fungi that can infect many plants, including crops, trees, and ornamentals. This disease can cause significant damage to affected plants, reducing crop yields and damaging landscapes. The fungus invades plant roots and then spreads throughout the plant, clogging its water, nutrient, and sap pathways, leading to wilting and premature death.
Verticillium Wilt Management in Eggplant (Brinjal)
The causal organism of Verticillium Wilt Disease
- The causal organism of Verticillium wilt disease is a soilborne fungus called Verticillium dahliae.
- This fungus belongs to the genus Verticillium, which contains several species that can cause similar plant symptoms.
- Verticillium dahliae is a filamentous fungus that typically enters plants through the roots and colonizes the xylem, the tissue responsible for transporting water and nutrients throughout the plant.
- Once inside the plant, the fungus produces toxins that interfere with the normal functioning of the xylem, leading to wilting, yellowing, and stunted growth.
- The fungus can persist in the soil for many years as resistant structures called microsclerotia, making it difficult to control and manage once established in a field.
The Disease cycle of Verticillium Wilt Disease
- Infection: When a susceptible host plant grows in microsclerotia soil, the fungus invades the roots directly or through natural wounds. Once inside the plant, the fungus produces a toxin that spreads through the xylem, blocking the movement of water and nutrients.
- Spread: As the fungus colonizes the vascular tissue, it produces spores that can be transported throughout the plant. The spores can also spread to other plants through root grafts or irrigation water.
Causes/Conditions favorable for Verticillium Wilt Disease spread in the field.
- Moist soil: The fungus that causes Verticillium wilt thrives in moist soil. Soil that is over-irrigated or has poor drainage can create favorable conditions for spreading the disease.
- Warm temperatures: The optimal temperature range for Verticillium wilt is 21-27° C (70-81° F). Temperatures that fall outside this range can slow the growth and spread of the fungus.
Symptoms of Verticillium Wilt Disease in Eggplant
- Yellowing of the leaves
- Wilting of the plant
- Stunted growth with small, yellowish-green leaves
- Fading of the edges of the leaves
- Rolling inward of the leaves
- Browning and drying of the leaves
- Vascular streaking in the leaves and stems
- Disrupted movement of nutrients and water
- Failure to produce usable fruit
In case you missed it: Bacterial Wilt Management in Eggplant (Brinjal): Symptoms, Treatment, Chemical, Biological, Natural, and Organic Control
Bacterial Wilt Management in Eggplant by Cultural Method
- Crop rotation: Crop rotation with non-host crops such as broccoli, corn, wheat, barley, sorghum, or safflower can help reduce inoculum levels in the soil. The longer t