The disease is called southern bacterial wilt and is caused by the soil-borne bacterium Ralstonia solanacearum.
“In addition to solanaceous vegetables, the bacterium can cause disease in a wide range of ornamentals,” Singh said. “The pathogen is spread within fields by the movement of infested soil, in surface water and though the handling of infected plants.”
Infected plants rapidly wilt due to loss of turgidity of leaves and stems, giving the plants a limp appearance.
“There are no effective chemicals registered for commercial as well as home growers,” Singh said.
Disease prevention is the key to reducing the spread to non-infected sites. Soil fumigation may reduce the incidence of the disease early in the season, but it has not provided long-term control.
Source: thecreole.com
