27 Most Common Pests and Diseases in Tomatoes Growing.

Thinking of growing some tomatoes this season but want to make sure you keep the bugs at bay before you begin? Tomatoes are vulnerable to a variety of pests that prey on their luscious red fruits, therefore pest prevention is perhaps more important than pest treatment. In this article, Xaxa gardening expert Victor Wairiuko examines the most prevalent tomato pests and diseases, as well as preventive strategies and natural therapies for pest and disease control. 

11 Most Common Tomato Pests

If you're considering growing tomatoes this year, you're not alone. Tomatoes are probably one of the most regularly cultivated veggies for the home gardener, and the fresh, vivid flavor can't be surpassed.

The pests to watch out for are essentially the same regardless of tomato plant species. Let's look at some of the pests that love tomatoes as much as we do and figure out how to keep them away from our plants.

Tuta Absoluta in Tomatoes

In many parts of the world, Tuta absoluta (Phthorimaea absoluta) is an extremely devastating tomato pest. It is a kind of moth native to Peru that can quickly destroy entire tomato harvests. 

Growers are getting increasingly concerned about the potential damage caused by Tuta absoluta. As people increasingly travel around the world and trade between countries, this tomato pest has spread swiftly throughout tomato-growing regions.

Aphids in Tomatoes; 

Aphids use their piercing-sucking mouthparts to extract sap from plants. Tomato plants may withstand a high number of aphids without yield loss. Severe infestations, on the other hand, can cause leaves to curl and plant growth to be stunted. Reduced leaf area might cause the sun's burn on the fruit.

Control; Best treatment for Aphids in Tomatoes

• How to Control Pest and Diseases in Plants

Cutworms in Tomatoes; 

Cutworms may cause stand loss early in the season by cutting off seedling or newly transplanted tomato plants at the soil line. Later in the season, these pests can also harm tomatoes by eating irregular holes in the surface of the fruits; tomato fruits that come into contact with the ground are usually the most significantly harmed.

Control; Best treatment for Cutworms in Tomatoes

How to Control Pest and Diseases in Plants

Leafhoppers in Tomatoes; 

Plants begin to exhibit symptoms 7 to 14 days after being infected by a leafhopper. Tomato is not a favoured host for the beet leafhopper; yet, the virus is transmitted to tomato by the leafhoppers when sampling it. Affected plants do not recover and either die or remain stunted without producing more fruit. 

Control; Best treatment for Leafhoppers in Tomatoes

• How to Control Pest and Diseases in Plants

Leaf Miners in Tomatoes 

Plants begin to exhibit symptoms 7 to 14 days after being infected by a leafhopper. Tomato is not a favoured host for the beet leafhopper; yet, the virus is transmitted to tomato by the leafhoppers when sampling it. Affected plants do not recover and either die or remain stunted without producing more fruit.

Control; Best treatment for Leaf Miners in Tomatoes 

• How to Control Pest and Diseases in Plants

Psyllids in Tomatoes

It is a significant commercial pest that began with potatoes and has now spread to other Solanaceae crops such as tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, and tobacco. The potato psyllid was thought to be a minor pest until it was discovered to be directly and indirectly responsible for substantial crop loss, the latter causing the most concern and proving difficult to control.

Control; Best treatment for Psyllids in Tomatoes

• How to Control Pest and Diseases in Plants

RootKnot Nematodes in Tomatoes

Tomato plants are vulnerable to root-knot nematodes, which are minute roundworms found in soil. Root-knot nematodes are parasitic nematodes that infect and consume plants. Aside from root-knot nematodes, the soil is home to a plethora of other non-parasitic nematodes.

Control; Best treatment for RootKnot Nematodes in Tomatoes

• How to Control Pest and Diseases in Plants

Slugs & Snails in Tomatoes

They will consume the plant's stems, leaves, and fruits, destroying your crop swiftly. These pests are especially dangerous to young tomato seedlings, which they can kill before the plants can ripen.

Control; Best treatment for Slugs & Snails in Tomatoes

• How to Control Pest and Diseases in Plants

Spider Mites in Tomatoes

Red spider mites are tiny red or brown arachnids that can infest tomato plants and cause substantial harm to the leaves and fruit. These pests feed on the plant's sap, leaving behind yellow, discolored leaves that can affect crop output and quality.

Control; Best treatment for Spider Mites in Tomatoes

• How to Control Pest and Diseases in Plants

Stalk Borer in Tomatoes

The common stalk borer is a thin, purple and white striped caterpillar that tunnels inside the stems of many plants. It is most usually found inside the giant ragweed stalk, although it is also a pest of tomatoes, corn, and other plants.

Control; Best treatment for Stalk Borer in Tomatoes

• How to Control Pest and Diseases in Plants

Thrips in Tomatoes

Tomato spotted wilt virus vectoring is the principal source of thrips damage to tomatoes. The virus can only be acquired by young thrips, whereas adults are principally responsible for plant-to-plant transmission.

Control;  Best treatment for Thrips in Tomatoes

• How to Control Pest and Diseases in Plants

Whitefly in Tomatoes

Sweet potato whitefly feeding is especially detrimental because it causes uneven ripening of the fruit. In recent years, it has been shown that the greenhouse whitefly is the vector of tomato infectious chlorosis virus, a virus capable of causing significant losses in the production of fresh-market and greenhouse tomatoes.

Best Treatment for Whitefly in Tomatoes

• How to Control Pest and Diseases in Plants

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16 Most Common Tomato Diseases

Tomatoes are a popular summer crop, but everyone from novice gardeners to seasoned green thumbs may encounter a difficulty or two with their plants.

So, what should a gardener do?

Our guide to the most prevalent tomato diseases can assist you in identifying, treating, and even preventing a wide range of fungal, bacterial, and viral problems, as well as physiological disorders and concerns caused by other pathogens.

Alternaria Stem Canker in Tomatoes

 Alternaria stem canker symptoms develop on stems, leaves, and fruit. On stems at the soil line or aboveground, dark brown to black cankers with concentric zonation appear. Cankers grow in size, girdle the stem before harvest, and eventually destroy the plants.

Control;

• How to Control Pest and Diseases in Plants

Anthracnose in Tomatoes

Anthracnose is a common fungal disease that affects ripe tomato fruit in the field as well as during postharvest ripening and storage. The disease is most common in fruit, although it can also infect leaves, stems, and roots.

Control;

• How to Control Pest and Diseases in Plants

Black Mold in Tomatoes

Black mold is a disease that occurs in the field after rain or dew on mature tomato fruit. With increased late-season rain, disease incidence increases; it is most common in late-season processing tomatoes. To germinate, fungal spores require 3 to 5 hours of moisture.

Control;

• How to Control Pest and Diseases in Plants

Botrytis Gray Mold in Tomatoes

Botryotinia fuckeliana (Botrytis cinerea) is the fungus that causes grey mould. It is a common and often serious fungal disease that affects tomato plants (as well as other plants) in greenhouses and fields. It is difficult to suppress once established, and it may be present in greenhouse crops all year.

Control;

• How to Control Pest and Diseases in Plants

Early Blight in Tomatoes

Early blight is one of the most frequent tomato and potato diseases in Minnesota, occuring virtually every season. It damages the leaves, fruits, and stems of tomato plants and can severely limit productivity when vulnerable tomato varieties are utilized and the weather is right. Severe defoliation is possible.

Control;

• How to Control Pest and Diseases in Plants

Fusarium Wilt in Tomatoes

Fusarium wilt is a catastrophic soil-borne fungal disease that affects tomatoes in the United States and around the world. Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici causes the disease, which can result in considerable yield losses in greenhouse, high tunnel, and field tomato cultivation.

Control;

• How to Control Pest and Diseases in Plants

Powdery Mildew in Tomatoes

Since outbreaks of this disease were documented in Europe, North and South America, and Asia in the early 1990s, powdery mildew of tomato has become a major disease problem in both field and greenhouse production globally. Yellowing, drying, necrosis, and defoliation are the most common symptoms of the disease, which primarily affects leaves.

Control;

• How to Control Pest and Diseases in Plants

White Mold (Timber Rot) in Tomatoes

White mold commonly emerges on tomato plants during blossoming. Water-soaked spots on flowers and at stem joints where senescent flower petals have fallen are symptoms. The illness soon kills the stems, which eventually dry out and turn bleached.

Control;

• How to Control Pest and Diseases in Plants

Late Blight in Tomatoes

Late blight symptoms emerge on the leaves as small, water-soaked patches that quickly develop to create purple-brown, oily-looking blotches. Rings of grayish white mycelium and spore-forming structures may emerge around the spots on the lower surface of the leaves.

Control;

• How to Control Pest and Diseases in Plants

Bacterial Canker in Tomatoes

When the bacterium invades the fleshy tissue, it can cause a yellow to brown internal breakdown of the fruit. The bacterium Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (Cmm) causes bacterial canker. This pathogen is primarily introduced into plantings through infected seed or transplants.

Control;

• How to Control Pest and Diseases in Plants

Bacterial Speck in Tomatoes

Bacterial speck appears on foliage, fruit, and stems as dark brown to black lesions of varying sizes and shapes. Tissue near the lesions appears yellow at first. Leaf lesions are frequently concentrated along the margins of the leaves, resulting in severe marginal necrosis (tissue death).

Control;

• How to Control Pest and Diseases in Plants

Bacterial Spot in Tomatoes

The earliest symptom on leaves appears as small, spherical, water-soaked dots that eventually turn dark-brown or black and are encircled by a yellow halo. Lesions vary in size, but rarely grow to be larger than 1/10 inch in diameter.

Control;

• How to Control Pest and Diseases in Plants

Tobacco Mosaic Virus in Tomatoes

The symptoms of Tobacco mosaic virus infection on tomato plants vary depending on the cultivar and the specific virus or strain. On the leaves, a slight mosaic develops, with some leaf distortion, including a fernlike look.

Control;

• How to Control Pest and Diseases in Plants

Blossom-End Rot in Tomatoes

Dark blotches on the ends of aubergine, tomato, and pepper plants are concerning, but they do not indicate the end of the crop. This condition is known as blossom end rot, and it is caused by a lack of calcium in the fruits. You may usually protect following fruits from blossom end rot by making simple modifications to irrigation.

Control;

• How to Control Pest and Diseases in Plants

Catfacing in Tomatoes

Catfacing is a tomato condition that generates puckered surfaces and distorted shapes in fruits. Bands of tan-colored scar tissue may also run across the fruit's blossom end. When meteorological circumstances interfere with appropriate pollination and fruit development, the disease occurs.

Control;

• How to Control Pest and Diseases in Plants

Fruit Cracking in Tomatoes

This form of damage is most likely to occur as tomatoes begin to ripen and you are eagerly awaiting harvest, but green fruit can still be affected. When frequent fluctuations in soil moisture levels lead fruits to expand faster than the tomato skin can grow, cracking and breaking occur.

Control;

• How to Control Pest and Diseases in Plants

Final Thoughts

While there are numerous pests that enjoy eating on tomato plants, there are just as many strategies to keep them at bay. The underlying thread throughout this list is to do anything you can to attract predatory insects to your garden.

Take the time before planting to learn which plants and flowers attract the predatory insects that are most beneficial to your location. After that, plant them! I guarantee that establishing a biodiverse ecosystem in your garden will result in a more enjoyable growing season

FAQ

What are some signs of a tomato plant with bacterial wilt, and how can you control it?

Bacterial wilt is a common disease that affects tomato plants, caused by the bacterium Ralstonia solanacearum. The first sign of bacterial wilt is often a drooping or wilting of the plant's leaves, usually starting from the bottom up. The plant may also have brown streaks on the stem, and the inner tissue may appear discolored. As the disease progresses, the plant will eventually die. To control bacterial wilt, it is important to remove and destroy infected plants and any surrounding soil. Crop rotation can also help to prevent the disease from spreading to other plants. Additionally, using disease-resistant varieties of tomato plants and practicing good sanitation, such as disinfecting tools and equipment, can help to reduce the likelihood of bacterial wilt.

What are some organic methods for controlling pests and diseases in tomato plants?

There are several organic methods for controlling pests and diseases in tomato plants, including cultural practices, biological control, and the use of organic pesticides. Cultural practices such as crop rotation, maintaining proper plant spacing, and using disease-resistant varieties can help reduce the incidence of pests and diseases. Biological control involves introducing natural predators, such as ladybugs or parasitic wasps, to control pests. Organic pesticides made from plant extracts, such as neem oil or pyrethrin, can be used to control pests without harming beneficial insects. Additionally, using compost and other organic soil amendments can help promote healthy plant growth and improve soil health, which can also help reduce the incidence of pests and diseases.

How can you tell if your tomato plant has blossom end rot, and how can you prevent it?

Blossom end rot is a common condition that affects tomato plants and is characterized by a dark, sunken spot at the bottom of the fruit. This condition is caused by a calcium deficiency, which can be caused by uneven watering, high levels of salt in the soil, or fluctuations in temperature. To prevent blossom end rot, it is important to maintain consistent moisture levels in the soil and to avoid letting the soil dry out completely. Adding a calcium-rich fertilizer or lime to the soil can also help prevent this condition. If you notice blossom end rot on your tomato plants, you can remove the affected fruit and take steps to address the underlying cause. In severe cases, it may be necessary to remove the entire plant and start over with fresh soil.