Vegetable Program
Disease Management

Tomato Anthracnose

Anthracnose of Tomato

Anthracnose of tomato is primarily a disease of ripe and over-ripe fruit. If left unchecked, the disease can cause serious losses in yield and marketability.  Caused by several species of Colletotrichum, the disease is widespread and common in areas where moisture conditions promote disease development and also affects eggplant, pepper, and potato. C. coccodes is the most common pathogen of tomato fruit.

Symptoms are first noticeable on ripe fruit, although green fruit is also infected and these latent infections can become a serious post-harvest problem. Tiny lesions may also occurs on leaves and stems, are usually overlooked, but can serve as an initial source of inoculum for fruit. Small, circular, sunken spots appear on ripe fruit and are characterized by numerous submerged, black microsclerotia often in concentric rings. Spots can coalesce and involve large areas of the fruit. Under humid conditions, spots darken due to the production of hairs (setae) on the fruiting bodies of the pathogen and pink, gelatinous masses of conidia may ooze from lesions. Lesions may crack and become invaded by secondary soft-rotting organisms.

Although C. coccodes is considered to be a weak pathogen, many common weeds and crop plants are hosts and thus inoculum reservoirs. The pathogen overwinters as microsclerotia on seed, in the soil, and in infected plant debris and is spread by splashing rain and overhead irrigation. The disease is favored by warm temperatures (20-24° C), extended periods of leaf and fruit wetness, and free moisture. Fruit on plants partially defoliated by leaf diseases are particularly susceptible to infection.

Management:

• Start with certified, disease-free seed. Use fungicide treated seed or treat seed with hot water (122° F for 25 minutes).
• Rotate with non-solanaceous crops for at least one year.
• Keep fields free from weeds.
• Avoid excess overhead irrigation.
• Staking and mulching can reduce losses to anthracnose.
• Fungicide sprays provide acceptable control if applied on a regular schedule from first fruit set to harvest. Use weather based disease forecast model to schedule sprays (TOM-CAST).

Chemical recommendations:

azoxystrobin (Quadris): 5to 6.2 fl oz/A (0 dh, REI 4 hr, Group 11). Apply at the first sign of disease and rotate with chlorothalonil, maneb, or cupric hydroxide after 7 to 14 days if necessary. Do not rotate with other strobilurins (Cabrio, Flint).

chlorothalonil (Bravo Ultrex 82 WDG): 1.3 to 1.8 lb/A (0 dh, REI 12 hr, Group M5). Apply every 7-10 days. Use the higher rate and shorter interval when disease pressure is high.

cupric hydroxide (Kocide 4.5 LF): 1.3 to 2.6 pt/A (0 dh, REI 24 hr, Group M1). Apply on a 7-10 day interval as soon as disease appears.

maneb/mancozeb (Penncozeb, Manzate, Dithane): Rates very with formulation (5 dh, REI 24 hr, Group M3).

pyraclostrobin (Cabrio EG): 8 to 12 oz/A (0 dh, REI 12 hr, Group 11). Apply at the first sign of disease and alternate with chlorothalonil, maneb, or cupric hydroxide after 7-14 days if necessary. Do not rotate with other strobilurins (Quadris, Flint).

References:

Howard, R.J. et.al. Eds.1994. Diseases and Pests of Vegetable Crops in Canada. Canadian Phytopathological Society.554 pp.

Howell, J. C., et al., Eds. 2005. 2006-2007 New England Vegetable Management Guide.

Jones, J.B., et al. 1991. Compendium of Tomato Diseases. APS Press.73 pp.

For Current information on production methods (including varieties, spacing, seeding, and fertility), weed, disease, and insect management, please visit the New England Vegetable Management Guide website.

Below you will find additional information on managing this crop, including photos of insects and diseases in this crop, fact sheets, articles, and power point presentations, when available.