Figure 5. Green tomatoes showing bacterial spot lesions.


Control
 Bacterial spot can be seed transmitted. Consequently, to
avoid infection from this source treat the seed with bicholoride
of mercury or Ceresan M. Because bacterial spot is quite
difficult to control once established in the field, use disease-free
transplants and remove all volunteer tomato plants from the
area. If the weather is rainy and bacterial spot is prevalent,
protect plants in the seedbed or field-seeded seedlings by spray-
ing the plants 4 to 5 days after emergence with recommended
materials. Continue spraying with a recommended material
on field plants on a 5- to 7-day schedule depending upon the
amount of rain and disease prevalence. Spray applications
applied before rains give much more effective control than
applications made after rain; however, no spray schedule gives
adequate control of the disease during periods highly favorable
for disease development. Do not place seedbeds in the area
of an abandoned field where bacterial spot was present the
previous season.

 Verticillium Wilt
 This wilt disease is caused by the fungus Verticillium albo-
atrum Reinke & Berthold. The pathogen is widely distributed
and causes severe losses in some areas in the United States.
The disease was first reported in Florida in 1931 but not
described until 1959 and is of importance only in Dade County.
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