We received more than 8 inches of rain since the evening of July 24 at Southwest Purdue Ag Center. This article discusses a few plant physiological disorders we observed after the heavy rains. We noticed a large percentage of cracked fruit on tomatoes at the stem end (Figure 1). Fruit cracking is a physiological disorder…Read more about Physiological Disorders after Heavy Rains[Read More]
Tomato
The following is an article in one of a series about bacterial diseases of tomato. Previously, articles about bacterial canker and bacterial spot have been featured here. The next article will be about general management methods for bacterial diseases of tomato. Bacterial speck causes lesions on all above ground portions of the tomato, in a…Read more about Bacterial Speck of Tomato[Read More]
The tobacco hornworm is one of the most devastating tomato pests in Indiana, if left unchecked. There are several natural enemies that help suppress this pest, such as stilt bugs (Figure 1), spined soldier bugs (Figure 2) and the parasitoid Cotesia congregata (Figure 3). Often, these natural enemies are not abundant until later in the…Read more about The Hornworms are Here![Read More]
In the Midwest, three major bacterial diseases threaten tomato production. These diseases are bacterial canker, bacterial spot and bacterial speck. Although these diseases are all caused by bacteria, they vary in symptomology, biology and management options. In the last issue of the Vegetable Crops Hotline, we discussed bacterial canker. In this second in the series,…Read more about Bacterial Spot of Tomato[Read More]
In the Midwest, three major bacterial diseases threaten tomato production. These diseases are bacterial canker, bacterial spot and bacterial speck. Although these diseases are all caused by bacteria, they vary in symptomology, biology and management options. We will discuss symptoms, biology and management of the three bacterial diseases in a series of newsletter articles. This…Read more about Tomato Bacterial Diseases — Bacterial Canker[Read More]
The following is a brief report of the pest and non-infectious problems found on vegetable in Indiana over the past 10 days. Tomato-In high tunnels and greenhouses, scattered growers have observed leaf mold, gray mold and white mold. Tomato spotted wilt has also been observed on tomatoes in high tunnels. Unfortunately, herbicide drift has also…Read more about Scouting Report[Read More]
The author of this article, Dan Egel, retired from Purdue University in February 2024. This article is a brief review of the symptoms of foliar diseases of tomatoes in greenhouses or high tunnels. Remember that foliar diseases of tomatoes that are observed in greenhouses or high tunnels are different than those found in the field….Read more about Foliar Diseases of Tomato in Greenhouses[Read More]
We received calls reporting observations of leaf curling on tomatoes. This article reviews factors contributing to the symptom. It was updated from an article published in June 2020, Issue 676. In a similar way as other vegetables, hot and dry conditions may cause leaf curling on tomatoes. In late spring and early summer, plants that…Read more about Tomato Leaf Curling[Read More]
Tomatoes grown in a controlled environment are exposed to different conditions from their original habitats. As a result, some plants may respond to the controlled environment with abnormal symptoms. Leaf and stem curling and distortion are symptoms we may see in the early season in greenhouses (Figure 1). This symptom might be caused by ethylene…Read more about Leaf and Stem Curling on Young Tomato Plants[Read More]
Tell us about your opinions on vegetable grafting practices All growers are eligible whether you use vegetable grafting practices or not. Researchers at the University of Florida, in collaboration with Clemson University, North Carolina State University, The Ohio State University, Pennsylvania State University, Kansas State University, Washington State University, University of Arizona, University of California, Davis, and USDA – Agricultural Research…Read more about Vegetable Grafting Survey[Read More]