Wilt Symptoms | Cornell Vegetables

Bacterial canker | See factsheet for more information

wilted tomato plant — Photo courtesy of Chris Smart, Cornell University, NY.

Symptoms: browning of vascular tissue and mealy appearance of pith at the crown and above. External discoloration, enlargement of nodes, and stem cracking may occur. Yellow and necrosis of plant associated with wilt. Foliage characteristically remains attached to the plant.

Bacterial stem rot

diseased tomato plant — Photos courtesy of T.A. Zitter, Cornell University, NY.

Symptoms: outward blackening of stem, pith, and leaf tissue.

Bacterial wilt

Symptoms: yellowing followed by leaf necrosis and wilting of entire plant. Longitudinal cutting of stem reveals brown vascular discoloration and eventual hollowness.

Fusarium wilt

diseased tomato stem and roots — Photos courtesy of T.A. Zitter, Cornell University, NY.

Symptoms: brown vascular tissue in the stem from crown to far above.

Pith necrosis | See factsheet for more information (LIHREC)

internal and external views of diseased tomato stem tissue — Photo courtesy of Meg McGrath, Cornell University, NY.

Symptoms: yellowing and wilting of leaves, blackening and enlarging of petioles and nodes which progresses to the top of the plant. Main stems produce many adventitious roots. Yellowing and wilting of entire plant.

Verticillium wilt

diseased and wilted tomato plant — Photos courtesy of T.A. Zitter, Cornell University, NY.

Symptoms: brown vascular tissue in the stem at the crown. Yellow blotches on lower leaves. Plants will wilt in the heat of the day.

Walnut wilt

wilted tomato plants — Photos courtesy of A.F. Sherf, Cornell University, NY.

Symptoms: poor plant growth and wilt when plants are grown in the root zone of walnut or butternut trees.

More information/prepared by:

For more information, please contact:
Meg McGrath – mtm3@cornell.edu & Chris Smart – cds14@cornell.edu
Originally prepared for Vegetable MD Online by Thomas A. Zitter.