Stephen Albert
Septoria leaf spot is a fungal disease. It is one of the most destructive tomato plant diseases and affects a wide range of other vegetables and garden plants as well.
Septoria fungal leaf spot is most severe in regions where warm, wet, humid weather extends over several days to weeks.
Target Plants: tomato, celery, cucumber-family crops.
Conditions for Disease Growth: Leaf spot occurs during periods of high humidity when temperatures are between 60° and 80°F.
Specific Damage:
- Leaf damage starts as small yellow spots that gradually turn brown; spots are 1/16 to 1/4 inch in diameter; spots become circular with dark brown margins and tan to gray center–a black speck in the center (black pycnidia, which are fungal fruiting bodies); spots may or may not have a yellow halo. Disease spreads upwards from oldest to youngest. Leaves turn slightly yellow, then brown, then wither and die and drop.
- Stem and fruits are not usually affected, but sunscald to fruits below leaves affected may occur as diseased leaves drop.
How Spread: Septoria fungi spores are wind- and rain-borne. Hyphae enter the plant through cracks and wounds in plant tissue.
Life Cycle: Fungi overwinter on decomposed plant debris and form new spores each spring. Several generations of spores can occur during summer when the disease is wide spread.
Organic Control and Prevention:
- Remove and destroy infected leaves as they appear; check lower and inner leaves often for signs of the disease.
- Improve air circulation around plants; stake or trellis plants.
- Do not use overhead irrigation.
- Mulch around the base of plants to stem water splash which can contain fungi spores.
- Clean tools after using; clean plant stakes and cages; plant in a different location next year.
- Clean garden of plant debris at the end of the season; fungus can overwinter in weeds and debris.
- Remove weeds from garden particularly nightshade family weed which can harbor fungi spores.
- Use disease-free seed.
- Treat self-saved tomato seeds with a 122°F hot water bath for 20 minutes.
- Foliar spray plants with compost tea.
- Rotate crops—do not plant tomato family crops in the same spot more often than every three years; plant resistant cultivars.
Non-Organic Treatment:
- Fungicides do not cure this disease but they can help prevent it or stem the spread. Apply chlorothalonil, maneb, macozed, or copper-based fungicide such as copper sulfate or Bordeaux mixture at 7 to 10 day intervals.
Disease Range: Throughout North America
Scientific name: Septoria spp.; Septoria lycopersici (tomatoes); Septoria apiicola (celery)
Prevention of Fungal Diseases:
- Remove diseased leave as soon as they appear.
- Improve air circulation around plants.
- Mulch around the base of plants to reduce water splashing.
- Do not use overhead watering.
- Control weeds.
- Rotate crops.
