Eggplant Verticillium wilt, commonly referred to as "half yellow and half withered," is one of the most devastating diseases affecting eggplants. This systemic disease can lead to the entire plant wilting and dying. It is particularly prevalent in long-term vegetable-growing areas where eggplants are cultivated repeatedly. As a result, the incidence rate in fields often drops by 20% to 40%, but the damage remains significant.
The disease typically manifests during the fruiting stage. Initially, yellow spots appear between the veins on the lower leaves. These spots gradually spread, causing the leaves to turn yellow, sometimes even turning brown. Affected leaves may temporarily recover after rain or at night, but over time, they become permanently wilted, curl upward, and eventually die. The infection can spread upwards, leading to the whole plant being affected. Diseased plants tend to be stunted, with small fruits and brown streaks inside the stems. The base of the stem may rot, and the vascular bundles turn brown or tan.
The disease spreads through wind, rain, and farming activities. Long-distance transmission mainly occurs via infected seeds. The pathogen can enter through natural openings or wounds on the plant's roots and stems.
Environmental conditions play a key role in disease development. High humidity and temperatures between 20°C and 25°C, along with soil temperatures of 22°C to 26°C, create ideal conditions for the disease. High heat above 28°C can suppress its occurrence. Cultivation practices also influence the disease: continuous cropping increases the risk, while crop rotation helps reduce it. Balanced fertilization improves plant health and resistance, while excessive nitrogen application weakens the plants. Low temperatures slow root wound healing, making them more vulnerable to infection. Heavy rainfall and cold irrigation water also favor disease development. Poor soil management, such as low-lying land, insufficient organic fertilizer, and improper planting density, further promotes the disease.
To manage this disease, a combination of agricultural, chemical, and biological methods is recommended. Proper irrigation, adding well-decomposed organic manure, and early plastic mulching are effective. For chemical control, applying 2–2.5 kg of 50% Carbendazim WP per acre before planting, or using 500 times diluted solution during the early stages, can help. Grafting eggplants onto resistant rootstocks like wild tomatoes or Yunnan eggplants significantly reduces the disease. Soil disinfection through solarization or replacing contaminated soil with fresh, non-solanaceous soil is another effective strategy.
These measures, when applied together, can greatly reduce the impact of Verticillium wilt and improve the overall health and yield of eggplant crops.
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