Photo Credit: Trix from TX
Fusarium stem rot and decline, commonly known as FRD, affects the water and nutrient-carrying vascular portions of processing tomato plant stems and canopies.
Eventually, vines begin to decline, collapsing and exposing the fruit to the sun, leading to potential sunburn. As experts learn more about the relatively new fungal disease, they say variety selection is key to reducing potential yield losses. Crop rotation and equipment sanitation also are important in managing fusarium stem rot and decline, though to lesser extents.
“I think the variety and sanitation would be my top priorities,” said Brenna Aegerter, university of California cooperative extension vegetable crops farm adviser who serves San Joaquin county. Rotating to a non-host crop can help reduce the pathogen in the soil, but she said it’s not too popular because many of the alternatives are unprofitable.
