Bacterial Canker in Tomatoes (Clavibacter michiganensis)

Symptoms

Bacterial canker can affect tomato plants of all ages; seedlings can die quickly when infected. The first symptoms of bacterial canker are the unilateral wilting of plants and the formation of light-colored streaks up and down the outside of the leaf midrib, petiole, and stem; streaks on the stems can break open to form cankers; mature leaves develop small necrotic spots on the upper leaf surfaces or small raised white spots on the leaves; white spots on fruits usually occur while they are still green; spots on fruits form a raised dark center and are known as “bird's-eye spots.”

Causal Agent Bacterial

Control Methods

Plant only certified seeds and transplants; hot water treatment of seeds to remove bacteria; rotate crops with non-host plants; turn crops into the soil after harvest to promote decomposition.