Pacific Northwest 1998 An Online Guide to Plant Disease Control

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OSU Extension Office
 
Eggplant (Solanum melongena) -- Verticillium Wilt
 
Cause: Verticillium dahliae, a fungus widespread in soil and that affects a wide range of herbaceous and woody plants. It is seedborne in eggplant but not likely to be important in the overall disease cycle. The fungus gains entry through the root system; progress in the plant is primarily through the vascular system.
Symptoms: Infected plants are stunted, and leaves yellow and roll inward. Disease development on eggplant begins with a yellowing of the lower leaves, reduced size, and vascular discoloration.

 
Cultural control:

  1. Do not leave crop remains on the field or add them to the compost pile, because this encourages future infections.
  2. Crop rotation with nonsusceptible grasses and grains may be of some small value.
  3. Do not rotate to tomato or potato. They are very susceptible hosts.
  4. The use of both black plastic mulch and ammonium sulfate fertilizers improved yields in Connecticut trials.
Chemical control: Preplant fumigation is recommended in the Hermiston, OR area.

  1. Metam sodium (Vapam, Vapam HL) at various rates. See label for details.
References:
Elmer, W. H. 2000. Comparison of plastic mulch and nitrogen form on the incidence of Verticillium wilt of eggplant. Plant Disease 84:1231-1234.
Content edited by: Cynthia M. Ocamb on January 1, 2009
 
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