After the emergence of seedlings of tomatoes, I carefully examine the stems. This helps to detect signs of a dangerous black leg in a timely manner. A fungal disease resembling rot develops in the lower part of the shoots. The causative agent Olpidium (Pythium) is found in the ground. Favorable conditions for the rapid reproduction of the fungus is excessive humidity. For adult strong plants, the black leg is not dangerous, but young, still weak seedlings, this infection can completely destroy.
Triggers and Key Signs
The following favorable conditions contribute to the active life of the fungus, which causes the appearance of a black leg on tomato seedlings:
- increased acidity of the soil;
- excessive (over 90%) air humidity;
- sharp temperature changes;
- unbalanced watering;
- excessively dense planting;
- a large number of leaves located near the surface of the soil;
- planting seedlings in cold ground;
- use for sowing varieties that are resistant to fungal infections;
- poor quality soil substrate;
- location of seedlings in a draft;
- lack of lighting.
Black leg symptoms:
- dark, rapidly growing and blackening mark on the stem near the root collar;
- stop growth processes;
- drying of young leaves;
- bending and possible fracture of the stem thinned at the site of the lesion.
Control measures
It is possible to help tomato seedlings only with the initial symptoms of the development of an insidious black leg. I host several events:
- I stop watering the seedlings.
- I'm thinning out the crops.
- I carefully dig and destroy seedlings with signs of infection.
- I practice loosening the substrate.
- I disinfect the soil with a pink solution of potassium permanganate. If required, I take Bordeaux (1%) liquid.
- If I notice an increased acidity index, I scatter dolomite flour or sifted ash (250-400 g / m2).
- I irrigate all tomato crops with antifungal drugs. I use mainly "Fitolavin", "Fitosporin-M" or "Trichodermin". I carry out several procedures, observing the interval of 14-20 days.
- As an addition to specialized formulations, I spray the aerial part of the tomatoes and the surface of the earth with vodka diluted 1:10 with settled water.
You can use onion peel (20 g), which I insist for 3-4 hours in 1 liter of water. After filtering, I irrigate the tomatoes.
Prevention
To prevent the appearance of a black leg on young tomato seedlings, disinfection of the substrate prepared for sowing will help. I spill it with a pink solution of available pharmacy potassium permanganate.
I also carry out disinfection for 15 minutes in a similar seed antiseptic.
I do not allow dense sowing. I make the row spacing 7-8 cm wide, and leave the interval in the row about 1 cm.
I exclude the shadow. For sufficient lighting, I mount lamps next to the seedlings.
I water the seedlings in a timely manner. Do not allow excessive drying of the substrate.
To keep the soil loose, I sprinkle the soil with mulching material.
The black leg that develops rapidly on young shoots of tomatoes is not easy to cure. It is easier to prevent the onset of infection by applying simple but effective measures.
I wonder what technologies you use to save tomato seedlings from blackleg. Describe your experience in the comments.
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