Fusarium Wilt
fungusFusarium oxysporum
Soilborne fungus that blocks water transport in plant vascular tissue. Race-specific to many crops.
Identification
One-sided wilting (half of plant wilts first). Yellowing of lower leaves. Brown discoloration in stem vascular tissue (cut stem to check).
Damage & Symptoms
Progressive wilt despite adequate water. Yellowing from bottom up. Plant death. Brown vascular tissue.
Organic Control
No cure once infected. Remove and destroy plants. Solarize soil. Add mycorrhizal fungi to suppress. Raise soil pH above 6.5.
Chemical Control
No effective chemical control. Soil fumigation (commercial only).
Prevention
Resistant varieties (look for F on tag). Crop rotation (5+ years). Raise soil pH. Avoid damage to roots. Clean tools between plants.
Data confidence: medium | Source: curated_ipm