Verticillium wilt causes a condition called “early dying” due to blockage of the vascular system which weakens the plant and eventually causes death. It is controlled by combatting the symptoms by maintaining low plant stress through very careful use of irrigation and fertilizer. Verticillium can be controlled by fumigation (very expensive) or long-term rotations with non-host species such as corn and cereals.
Symptoms
The disease first appears as a slight wilt of the vine. The leaves become a paler green, the vines droop, the leaves curl inward along the edges, become yellow and then drop prematurely. After leaf drop, the fruit dries. Within 7 to 14 days, most of the leaves are lost, resulting from the rotting of the main root system and the girdling of the stem at the crown region. The root infection is usually unnoticed until the leaves begin to yellow.
