Eggplant is a demanding culture that quickly responds to any disturbances in agricultural technology and negative impacts. We will find out what diseases and pests attack eggplants, and what to do in order not to lose in yield.
Why do eggplants start to hurt?
Eggplants are heat-loving, so when they are grown in a temperate climate, problems often arise. If agricultural practices are violated and under poor growing conditions, the culture not only grows poorly, but also begins to hurt.
Causes of eggplant diseases:
- Lack of light. Plants should receive dosed lighting. During the period of growing seedlings, plantings cannot be highlighted around the clock. If there is little light, the seedlings begin to ache and wither, with an excess, they stretch out. The optimal daylight hours for eggplants are 10 hours. Plants need a lot of light during the ripening period. Eggplant leaves are illuminated not only from above, but also from below.
- Moisture deficiency. The soil should always be slightly moist. It should not be dry or waterlogged. It is waterlogging that causes most dangerous diseases. In the heat, watering is carried out every other day, pouring 3-5 liters of water under each bush. In normal weather, plantings are watered 2-3 times a week. When the fruits are ripe, watering is reduced to 1 time per week.
- Nutritional deficiency. The best soils for eggplant are sandy loam and loamy, with neutral acidity. On acidic low-fertile soils, plant leaves turn yellow. It is not recommended to add sawdust to the soil to prevent acidification. Acidic soils are deoxidized with wood ash or dolomite flour.
- Cold water. Eggplant roots should be in warm soil. Seedlings are planted in open ground only when it is warmed up to + 25 ... + 28 ° C. Water for irrigation should be warm and settled. Because of the cold water, eggplants get sick with fungal infections, shed their ovaries and even die.
Diseases of eggplant
Eggplant can be affected by various pathogens - bacteria, viruses, fungi. Treatment is selected depending on the nature of the disease, so it is important to diagnose it correctly.
Blackleg
This most dangerous disease affects mainly seedlings of eggplant, but can also be found on adult plants. Two pathogens, fungi and bacteria, can cause a black leg or soft rot. Their impact is very similar, so first you need to make a diagnosis, and then prescribe treatment.
Symptoms:
- a black constriction appears on the lower part of the stem;
- seedlings weaken and wither, and when the pathogen enters the roots, they die.
Pathogenic fungus and bacteria that cause blackleg, as a rule, penetrate plants through wounds, which is why the disease often affects dived seedlings.
The reasons:
- use of cold water for irrigation;
- sudden changes in temperature;
- waterlogged soil;
- thickening of plantings and poor airing of seedlings.
When a black leg appears, it is necessary to immediately remove all diseased seedlings and start treating the remaining seedlings.
Treatment:
- watering with Fitosporin solution - 100 ml per bucket of water;
- spraying with 1% Bordeaux fluid;
- soil cultivation with potassium permanganate - if adult plants are sick;
- complete replacement of the soil - if seedlings are sick;
- watering or spraying with Previkur Energy.
Prevention:
- steaming and disinfection of soil for seedlings;
- maintaining a favorable temperature;
- creating good lighting;
- watering only with warm water - not under the root, but along the walls of the seedling containers;
- gentle loosening of the soil;
- sprinkle ash or crushed charcoal on the soil once a week;
- providing good ventilation of plantings due to the comfortable placement of seedlings - they should not shade each other.
For the prevention of a black leg, you can use "folk recipes". Spraying the plants with infusion of onion peels and dusting the soil with ash help prevent disease.
Rolling the leaves
When twisting the cotyledon leaves, you should not worry - this sign indicates the maturation of the plant. The first leaves of the plant are discarded. The curled leaves soon dry up and fall off.
If the leaves are curled in the grown seedlings, there is cause for alarm. But first you need to determine the cause of the pathology. Leaves can curl in different ways - up or down edges, as well as at an angle of 90 degrees to the stem.
Causes of twisting and control measures:
- Lack of moisture. If the eggplant is short of water, increase the watering frequency. Moisten the soil whenever its surface layer dries. If you water the seedlings, then pour so much water that the entire clod of earth in the container is saturated with water.
- Eating disorders. If there was a lot of nitrogen in the applied fertilizers, and there was little phosphorus and potassium, then the leaves curled due to an imbalance of nutrients. By the nuances of twisting, you can judge its reasons:
- Leaves curved upside down indicate potassium deficiency.
- Leaves curved towards the stem signal phosphorus deficiency. In both cases, the problem is solved by scattering ash - 1 tsp each. per plant.
- Top dressing for poor watering. Even the best quality fertilizers applied when there is a lack of moisture will cause curling. Salts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium accumulate in the soil. The high concentration of chemicals causes the leaves to curl and dry out. Eliminate the problem will help to stop feeding and increase the volume and frequency of watering.
- Other reasons. Curling can be observed due to changes in temperature or humidity. By rolling the leaves, the plant reacts to discomfort. After a while, it adapts and the problem disappears.
Powdery mildew
This disease affects a wide variety of cultures. Its causative agent is a fungus, which multiplies especially actively in conditions of high humidity and frequent temperature changes.
Symptoms:
- white bloom appears on the outside of the leaf plates;
- the leaves dry up, the plant withers.
Treatment: spraying with Topaz or colloidal sulfur.
Prevention:
- 2-3 times, at intervals of 10 days, spray the plants with microbiological agents;
- scattering of ash on the surface of the soil;
- when growing seedlings - reduce watering and eliminate drafts, if any.
If a powdery coating appears on the back of a leaf, then the plant is affected by downy mildew (peronosporosis).
Black spot
Like black leg, it is a very dangerous disease. Bacterial spotting can occur both in the greenhouse and in the open field. Usually the disease occurs at a humidity of 85-90%. Black spot can appear during any growing season - there is no stage at which the likelihood of the disease is increased.
Causes of black spot:
- lack of light;
- cold water for irrigation;
- lack of nutrition or improper feeding;
- plant residues have not been removed;
- thickening of landings;
- infected seeds and other causes.
Symptoms:
- first, small black spots with a yellow border appear on the leaves;
- after a week, the points become convex;
- after another week or two, the plants become covered with ulcers.
Treatment:
- Phytoflavin treatment - take 20 ml for 10 liters of water. Norm - 2 liters of solution per plant. Treatments with an interval of 2 weeks.
- Gamair treatment - 1 tablet per 10 liters of water.
Prevention:
- cleaning plant residues;
- maintaining a normal temperature background when growing seedlings;
- prevention of thickening.
The pathogen of black spot infects soil and plant debris.
Yellowness of leaves
Yellow leaves can appear in both seedlings and adult eggplants. As a rule, this happens due to a violation of agricultural technology or disease.
Causes of yellowing leaves:
- scarce watering;
- deficiency of nitrogen or potassium;
- too cold water for irrigation;
- acidic soils;
- unsuitable substrate for seedlings - too dense peat soil;
- any disease of the plant - it is necessary to diagnose it before proceeding with the treatment.
Prevention:
- the use of special soil for seedlings;
- soil sterilization before use;
- throughout the growing season - timely and correct feeding.
Phytoplasmosis (stolbur)
This is a viral disease that usually affects eggplants growing without shelter. But it is found in greenhouses. The carriers of the virus are cicadas. Also, the virus can be transmitted through plant debris, remaining in the rhizomes of weeds.
Varieties resistant to this disease are not.
Symptoms
- leaves become smaller, acquiring a purple or white tint;
- the plant is deformed;
- the stalk hardens and turns brown;
- fruits grow small and hard, lignified;
- inflorescences change color and deform.
Treatment and prevention:
- processing by Aktellik;
- removal of diseased plants and soil disinfection;
- timely cleaning of plant residues.
Phomopsis
This disease provokes a fungus that causes dry rot that destroys the plant. The pathogen develops at high humidity and temperature.
The reasons:
- excess nitrogen in the soil;
- frequent precipitation.
Symptoms
- rounded light concentric spots appear on the leaves, stems and fruits of plants;
- growing, spots cover the entire plant;
- gray-brown spots on the fruits soften and rot, gradually becoming covered with mucus.
Treatment and prevention:
- seed disinfection;
- fungicide treatment;
- observance of agricultural technology;
- removal and destruction of diseased plants.
Cercosporosis
This fungal disease is transmitted during watering and cultivation. Also, fungal spores can be carried by the wind. The main cause of cercosporosis is high humidity.
Symptoms
- small yellowish spots appear on the leaves, stems and stalks;
- when the spots grow, the leaves die and fall off;
- the fruits grow underdeveloped and tasteless, have no presentation.
Treatment and prevention:
- at the initial stage - treatment with Bordeaux liquid;
- spraying with Skor, Fundazol;
- the use of complex mineral fertilizers.
Late blight
This is a common disease that affects all nightshade crops. The disease occurs with high humidity and thickening of the plantings. Also, the disease can spread to eggplant from other nightshade crops.
Symptoms:
- brownish spots with a green edging appear on the leaves;
- on the seamy side of the leaves - a whitish coating;
- spots appear on stems and fruits over time;
- the fruits rot.
How to fight:
- for prevention - spraying with copper-containing preparations, Bordeaux mixture;
- for treatment - spraying with Quadris, Anthracnol and other fungicides.
You can fight late blight with folk remedies:
- sprinkle with garlic tincture or milk whey solution;
- dusting with wood ash.
The peak period for the spread of late blight is August.
White rot (sclerotinosis)
The causative agents are polyphagous fungi that live and winter in the ground and on plant debris. Spores can persist on seeds. The fungus lives in the soil for 8-10 years. Spore awakening begins at high humidity.
The reasons:
- high rainfall;
- dense plantings and cold water for irrigation;
- contamination from neighboring crops.
Symptoms:
- on the stems - a whitish cotton-like bloom, inside which sclerotia (compaction) are formed;
- the affected areas become soft, slippery;
- on fruits - large white spots, which then turn black;
- the leaves have dark wet spots.
Treatment:
- pruning the affected parts of the bush;
- treatment with biological products - Baikal EM-1, Fitosporin, Trichodermin, etc.
- chemical treatment with hazard class 3-4;
- at the onset of the disease, spraying with 1% Bordeaux liquid helps - 2-3 times with an interval of 1-2 weeks.
Prevention:
- competent agricultural technology;
- mechanical damage and wounds are treated with ash;
- soil disinfection;
- shelter in cool and rainy weather;
- the soil should be loose and well-drained;
- eggplant can be planted in one place with an interval of 4 years.
Gray rot (Alternaria)
The disease is dangerous when growing crops in open and closed ground. First of all, the fruits located below rot - because of the water that gets on them during watering. Alternaria also appears when eggplant ripens for too long.
Symptoms
- leaves are covered with pressed gray or brown spots;
- spots may appear on the fruit.
Treatment: processing by Horus, Anthracnol.
Prevention: spraying with copper sulfate or colloidal sulfur, Fitosporin and Trichodermin.
Alternaria more often affects late-ripening crop varieties, penetrating the plant through mechanical damage.
Dry rot (phomopsis)
The disease affects eggplants grown outdoors. It appears especially in hot and humid weather.
Symptoms
- decay of sprouts;
- in older plants, rot appears on the stem;
- on adult plants, phomopsis causes the appearance of brown, rounded spots with clearly defined edges;
- the spots are concentric, light in the center, later black dots appear in them;
- spots cover all parts of the plant, including fruits, which completely rot.
Treatment:
- spraying with Bordeaux mixture;
- treatment with fungicides, which contain prochloraz;
- disinfection of seeds.
Verticillary wilting
The disease affects eggplants grown in open ground. It appears especially in hot and humid weather. The pathogen, penetrating the plant, destroys it.
The reasons:
- disease carriers are insects;
- infection from plant debris and soil;
- a sharp change in weather.
Symptoms
- the stem inside becomes black, off-white mucus is released from it;
- the leaves turn yellow and wither.
How to fight:
- for prevention - treatment with a solution of potassium permanganate and Fitosporin;
- feeding with phosphorus and potassium;
- spraying with insecticides to kill insect pests.
Tobacco mosaic
An extremely contagious disease that can be transmitted through plant debris. The pathogen persists on them for years. Mosaics are also carried by insects. The virus can penetrate through mechanical damage, it is also transmitted through infected seeds.
Symptoms
- leaves turn pale and deformed;
- on the leaves - light and dark mosaic spots of green color;
- the spots darken over time and perforate;
- the fruits grow small, they are covered with yellow spots.
How to fight:
- half an hour seed treatment with 20% hydrochloric acid solution;
- spraying with a solution of milk and laundry soap - once every 10 days;
- for treatment - spraying with Fitosporin or Uniflor-micro.
After disinfection in hydrochloric acid, the seeds must be washed in running water.
Internal necrosis
The causative agent of the disease is pathogenic bacteria or viruses that are activated when there is a lack of potassium in the soil. If the disease is viral in nature, it is not cured - the affected plants can only be destroyed. Top rot can also be caused by a lack of moisture in the soil and an excess of nitrogen.
Symptoms:
- gray spots appear on the tops of the fruit;
- decay of fruits.
How to fight:
- if the cause of the disease is a lack of nutrition, it is necessary to feed the plants;
- regular watering;
- the introduction of potassium monophosphate;
- spraying with solutions of calcium nitrate or potassium salt.
Vertex rot
The disease is caused by a viral infection. If action is not taken immediately, the plants will die. The disease is activated by excessive moisture and excess nitrogen.
Symptoms:
- necrotic areas appear on plants;
- the disease, starting at the stalk, affects the entire fetus.
How to fight:
- application of potash fertilizers;
- seed treatment with potassium permanganate;
- spraying seedlings with a solution of boric acid;
- timely removal of affected leaves and fruits.
Eggplant pests
Eggplants are attacked by a wide variety of pests. Some insects are capable of destroying plants in a matter of days. To save the culture, insecticides, biological products and folk remedies are used.
Cruciferous flea
The pest looks like a little black bug. Fleas are especially active in sunny areas, avoiding shaded and humid places. They damage the leaves of eggplant and can destroy the bush in a short time. Eating greens, fleas leave only streaks.
Both adult insects and their root-eating larvae pose a threat to the plant.
How to fight:
- spraying with dandelion or garlic infusion, lime or wormwood solution;
- dusting with wood ash or ground pepper;
- insecticide treatment, for example, Actellik.
Slugs
Slugs belong to gastropods. They are voracious and capable of destroying eggplant plantings in a short time. They eat both leaves and stems, and fruits.
Slugs appear on the beds in the dark. But to determine their presence is easy - by large holes gnawing in plants.
How to deal with slugs:
- remove weeds on time;
- when growing eggplants in closed ground - ventilate greenhouses and greenhouses;
- sprinkle the paths with sand or coarse salt;
- mulch the soil with needles;
- loosening the soil, sprinkle it with ground pepper.
If all the measures taken do not lead to a positive result, the plantings are treated with metaldehyde. The powder is scattered along the paths - 3 g for each square meter of the area.
Whitefly
Whitefly is a small butterfly that feeds on plant juices. The insect secretes specific dew, which contributes to the development of sooty fungi. Butterflies and their larvae are concentrated on the seamy side of the leaf.
How to fight:
- install glue traps;
- spraying with Fitoverm, Aktara.
Aphid
Small light green beetles with soft bodies live in colonies on plants, feeding on their juices. Due to the loss of nutrients, the eggplants dry out and die.
How to fight:
- wipe the leaves with a solution of ash and soap;
- spray onion broth or tincture of tobacco dust;
- handle with Karbofos or Keltan.
Medvedka
Medvedka lives in the ground. You can guess about her presence by dug passages and holes. The insect eats the roots, which causes the plants to die quickly.
How to fight:
- plant marigolds along the beds;
- sprinkle the soil with ground pepper;
- water the soil with broths of onions or garlic;
- scatter Medvetox or Thunder preparations near the pest holes.
Spider mite
Spider mites especially often affect eggplants grown in greenhouses and greenhouses. Heat is also a provoking factor for his attacks. The insect is on the back of the leaves. The tick sucks the juices from the tissues of the plant.
How to fight:
- for prevention - disinfection of greenhouses and hotbeds;
- spraying with dandelion infusion with the addition of soap chips.
Colorado beetle
The Colorado potato beetle is the main enemy of all nightshade crops. For a month, the beetle is able to eat 4 g of green mass, the larva - 1 g. During the season, one female can lay 600-800 eggs.
How to fight:
- The best remedy is insecticides. But they are not recommended for use during the formation of ovaries and at the stage of fruiting.
- You can collect beetles and larvae by hand.
- Dusting bushes with ash and corn flour, sprinkling sawdust between rows helps.
- It is recommended to spray the plantings with garlic broth.
- Plant marigolds and calendula along plantings - they scare away bugs.
Disease and pest prevention methods
The defeat of pests and diseases is better to prevent than to fight them. Preventive measures are much more effective, and most importantly they help to avoid yield losses.
Preventive measures:
- The seed must be decontaminated. You must either buy pickled seeds or process the seed yourself.
- Observe the rules of crop rotation for nightshade crops.
- Disinfect the soil with antiseptics and copper-containing preparations.
- Avoid thickening of landings.
- Compliance with agricultural technology. It is important to properly water and feed the plants.
- Maintain the cleanliness of the site and greenhouses.
Eggplant has many enemies that can cause irreparable damage to the crop. But timely preventive measures and regular inspection of beds with eggplant will help prevent most problems caused by diseases and pests.
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Russia. City Novosibirsk
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