Content
Diseases of eggplants in open ground are most often associated with improper care. For example, fungal infections occur due to excessive watering, dense planting, and unbalanced fertilizing. Therefore, for prevention, it is necessary to provide proper care, as well as follow planting recommendations.
Causes of diseases
Many diseases of eggplants in open ground spread due to unfavorable weather. If the summer is rainy and cool, and there are periodic temperature changes, this contributes to the development of fungal infections. In some cases, prolonged drought can be a provoking factor.
But most often the reasons are associated with improper care:
- early transplantation into open ground;
- too tight fit;
- sunburn (especially in seedlings);
- excessive or insufficient watering;
- unbalanced feeding.
Eggplants are quite demanding plants.Therefore, when grown in open ground, they need to be provided with good care.
Fungal diseases of eggplants and their control
Most often, plants suffer from fungal infections. The main types of eggplant diseases with photos of leaves and descriptions of treatment methods are presented below.
Blackleg
This disease is also called root collar rot. It is associated with fungi that live in the surface layer of soil. It spreads against a background of high humidity. After the root collar, it affects the sprouts themselves. The stems turn black, soften, and become brittle. As a result, they can break and the plants die.
The main factors contributing to the spread of the disease in open ground are dense planting, violation of watering norms, and lack of air flow. There is no adequate treatment - diseased bushes are destroyed. It is better to transplant healthy ones into soil, which is previously disinfected with fungicides.
Symptoms of blackleg in open ground
Powdery mildew
The photo and description of this eggplant disease shows that it primarily affects the lower leaves. A white coating appears on them. Next, the infection spreads to the upper foliage, after which the fruits become covered with a white coating, reminiscent of flour, and crack.
To treat eggplants in open ground against this disease, biological preparations are used, for example, Trichodermin, Gaupsin. They are effective and safe at the fruiting stage. If the plant has not yet formed ovaries, you can also use chemicals, for example, “Skor”, “Bordeaux mixture”, “Ordan” and others.
A leaf affected by powdery mildew can be easily identified visually
Late blight
Late blight is a fungal infection that affects eggplants and other nightshades in open ground. Main features:
- brown spots;
- white coating on the underside of the leaves;
- rotting of fruits - first in separate places, and then entirely.
To prevent this disease, it is necessary to observe crop rotation in open ground. Eggplants should not be grown in the same place for more than 3-4 years in a row, and they should not be planted after other nightshades, such as tomatoes or peppers.
Plant seeds are disinfected in a solution of potassium permanganate, and the plantings themselves are treated with copper-containing preparations. You should start spraying against diseases in the open ground even before the fruits begin to ripen. To do this, you can use the following tools:
- "Oxychom";
- "Ridomil Gold";
- "Acrobat MC";
- "Metaxyl".
Cercospora
Cercospora blight is one of the common diseases that affects eggplants in open ground. It spreads to leaves, shoots, and stalks. The main features are:
- pale yellow spots;
- their increase in size;
- falling leaves;
- stopping plants from developing;
- crushing fruits.
Cercospora blight spreads with wind and water
It is possible that infection can penetrate through gardening tools used to care for eggplants in the open ground. The following drugs are used for treatment:
- "Bordeaux mixture";
- "Abiga Peak";
- "HOME."
Phomopsis
Phomopsis is a fungal disease of eggplants in open ground that spreads widely in hot weather. Main features:
- browning;
- rotting of seedlings;
- ring rot on the root collar;
- spots on leaves of brown color near the veins;
- Brownish spots appear on the fruits.
When grown in open ground, the disease is transmitted by precipitation, wind, and insects. It is dangerous because many fruits can rot and become unfit for consumption. Treatment is carried out using fungicides based on mancozeb, chlorotonil, and prochloraz.
Fruit affected by Phomopsis should be disposed of.
Alternaria (gray rot)
Alternaria blight is another dangerous disease of eggplants. Found in open ground and in greenhouses. A fungal infection manifests itself with the following symptoms:
- brown spots on leaves;
- wet areas on the fruit, causing them to spoil and become soft, black or olive-gray.
Fungi penetrate through mechanical damage and burns on fruits. The pathogen overwinters in the soil for two seasons. Affected bushes are difficult to cure - it is better to dig them up and throw them away. In the early stages, you can try treating with a solution of colloidal sulfur or copper-based preparations.
Gray rot of the fruit leads to the death of the crop
Sclerotinia (white rot)
Sclerotinia is a fungal disease of open ground eggplants. It is also called white rot, since the main symptom is the appearance of a whitish coating on the stem. There are noticeable inclusions on it - these are sclerotinia. Gradually, the tissues soften, water and nutrients stop flowing, and the bushes die.
The fruits also soften and become watery. Often a whitish coating is noticeable on them. To get rid of the disease, all affected parts are removed, the areas are sprinkled with wood ash, and then treated with Bordeaux mixture or other copper-containing fungicides.
White rot of eggplant causes softening of the fruit
Fusarium
Along with verticillium, fusarium causes yellowing of eggplant leaves. Moreover, this fungal disease is even more dangerous. Mainly found in greenhouses, less often in open ground. Spreads during the fruiting stage.
The pest penetrates from the soil through the root system, spreads through the vessels and begins to release toxic substances. As a result, signs of toxicosis develop - leaf necrosis, wilting of the bush. Moreover, it spreads from the top. Also, the source of the disease can come through the eggplant fruit.
Signs of fusarium - wilting of foliage
There are no adequate treatments for this fetal disease. At the first detection of symptoms, the affected plants are dug up and destroyed, and the soil is replaced with new soil. Moreover, the soil should be etched with biological or chemical agents:
- "Trichophyte";
- "Bordeaux mixture";
- "Fitosporin-M";
- "Trichodermin."
Anthracnose
Unlike many others, this disease of open ground eggplants is associated with two types of fungi. Moreover, the symptoms are approximately the same:
- Oval spots of brown or dark gray color appear on the foliage, their edges are blurred.
- Dark depressed areas (1 cm in diameter) form on the fruits.
- Also on eggplants, black formations in the form of pads with brown spots are noticeable - they affect most of the fruits, which is why they crack.
Fruit affected by anthracnose should not be used for cooking.
The spread of the disease is associated with conidia that remain in the soil and on plants. Moreover, infection occurs from spring to autumn. For prevention, it is necessary to observe crop rotation, watering rates, and also not to plant eggplants too densely. Treatment is carried out using copper-containing drugs.
Viral diseases of eggplant
Viral diseases in open ground are also spread by precipitation and wind. The provoking factor is a decrease in temperature. If the summer is cool and rainy, the risks increase significantly. Another feature of viral diseases is that they cannot be cured. Therefore, all that remains is to dig up the bushes, take them away and destroy them.
The main viral pathology is mosaic; it is often transmitted by insects and through equipment. The virus is quite resistant to unfavorable temperatures and dryness. Moreover, it remains in the open ground for several years. There are several varieties of this disease:
- Tobacco mosaic - pale yellow spots appear on the leaves. The process of photosynthesis is disrupted, after which the damage spreads to other parts of the plant. The affected areas dry out, the leaves curl into tubes. The fruits on diseased bushes are small and deformed.
- Cucumber mosaic is another viral disease of open ground, due to which not only light but also dark spots appear on the leaves. In appearance they resemble rot. The bushes turn out to be dwarf and covered with blisters. However, they do not bear fruit.
- Speckled mosaic - spots on light green leaves that then turn brown. Holes form in their place. Plants die, the virus cannot be treated.
A leaf affected by mosaic appears spotted
Bacterial diseases
Bacterial diseases of eggplants in open ground are also common. The most dangerous are blossom end rot and spotting.
Apical rot
This pathology is not so common - it mainly affects peppers and tomatoes. However, eggplants can also suffer from bacterial infection. First, watery greenish or grayish spots appear on the side parts of the fruit. The surface becomes covered with wrinkles, the fruits become unsuitable for food.
There is no adequate treatment for blossom end rot - affected bushes are thrown away.
The soil on the site is changed. For prevention, seeds should be pickled in a solution of potassium permanganate before sowing for seedlings.
Bacterial spot
This pathology affects the entire above-ground part of plants. It manifests itself as small black spots on the leaves (up to 3 mm in diameter). On the stems and petioles these spots extend. Dots with watery edges are visible on the fruits. They can increase up to 8 cm and resemble ulcers.
It is impossible to treat eggplants against this disease, since there is still no effective treatment. The affected bushes are thrown away. The main preventive measures are crop rotation and seed treatment.
Prevention of eggplant diseases
Preventing eggplant diseases is much easier than treating them. As a preventative measure, experienced gardeners recommend listening to the following advice:
- Before sowing, treat the seeds in potassium permanganate or a fungicide solution.
- Do not plant too densely - there should be at least 30 cm between neighboring bushes.
- Do not violate the watering norm - give eggplants water once every 5 days in the amount of 10 liters per square meter.
- Apply fertilizer regularly - after planting in open ground, during flowering and ovary formation. It is best to alternate complex mineral compositions with organic matter (mullein, bird droppings).
- Maintain crop rotation - do not plant eggplants after nightshades (tomatoes, potatoes, peppers). The best predecessors are onions, cucumbers, different types of cabbage, and perennial herbs.
Conclusion
Diseases of eggplants in open ground appear against the backdrop of unfavorable weather and violations of care rules. Even with proper agricultural practices, the development of infections is not excluded. Therefore, the bushes should be periodically inspected and, if necessary, immediately treated with drugs.
