Southern blight, caused by Sclerotium rolfsii, attacks the plant at or below ground level

 by completely girdling the plant, thereby ceasing movement of water or nutrient to support the

 upper portion of the plant. As a result, the plant wilts and eventually dies (Florida Plant Disease

 Control Guide, 1993). Cultural practices for the control of southern blight include avoiding

 planting in areas of known infestation and rotating with crops such as grasses, legumes, or

 cucurbits (Florida Plant Disease Control Guide, 1993). Chemicals that are considered

 multipurpose pre-plant fumigants include Vapam and methyl bromide. Methyl bromide

 formulations containing higher concentrations of chloropicrin have been found to provide control

 of southern blight if it is present at time of treatment.

 Verticillium wilt, caused by Verticillium albo-atrum, affects the vigor of the plant.

 Symptoms consist of diurnal wilting (where the plant regains turgor during the evening hours)

 and marginal yellowing of the lower leaves of the plant. Cultural practices for the control of

 Verticillium wilt include rotating with a non-susceptible crop such as grasses, legumes, or

 cucurbits and avoiding planting in fields with a known history of disease (Florida Plant Disease

 Control Guide, 1993). Chemicals that are considered multi-purpose pre-plant fumigants include

 Vapam and methyl bromide. Methyl bromide formulations containing higher concentrations of

 chloropicrin have been found to provide control of Verticillium wilt if it is present at time of

 treatment.


 Nematodes

 There are several nematodes that have been identified in eggplant production. The most

common are: (a) root knot nematode, found in sand, muck, and rock base soils; (b) stubby-root

nematode found in sand and muck soils; and (c) sting nematode found in sand soils.