Why Tomato Leaves Turn White: Causes of Plaque and Methods of Control

09.01.2023 12:59
Updated: 13.04.2023 08:56

Troubles await gardeners at every step, starting from the moment of choosing seeds and planting them, and ending with transplanting seedlings.

The main problems are diseases and pests. Moreover, the pathogenic environment is even more insidious than insect pests. Where does the white coating come from?

White bloom on tomato leaves

At first, scattered spots appear on the leaves, which gradually merge together and darken. We are talking about a fungal disease - powdery mildew.

Reasons

The fungus develops due to excess nitrogen introduced into the soil. In addition to fertilizers, improper watering contributes to the development of the pathogenic environment. The situation is most difficult when growing tomatoes in a greenhouse.

Powdery mildew

The seemingly harmless plaque disrupts photosynthesis processes, causing the foliage to gradually die off, and if the situation is neglected, the plaque can spread to stems and flower stalks. The plant's immunity decreases, the yield drops, and the taste of the fruit deteriorates. Without treatment, the bush may die, and the fungus can switch to neighboring crops.

Tomatoes
Photo: © Belnovosti

How to fight

At the first signs, do not hope that it is just dust. The seedlings need to be treated, preferably with fungicides.

Good results in this regard are demonstrated by Pseudobacterin-2, Sporobacterin, Topaz and their analogues.

The soil in the beds is treated with a 0.5% solution of "Baktofit" and then repeated after two weeks. After 10 days, another treatment is carried out.

Igor Zur Author: Igor Zur Internet resource editor


Content
  1. White bloom on tomato leaves
  2. Reasons
  3. Powdery mildew
  4. How to fight