{"crop":"tomato","count":21,"pests":[{"crop":"tomato","pest":"fusarium-wilt","type":"disease","severity":"severe","symptoms":"One-sided yellowing then wilting, often starting on one branch and progressing up. Brown vascular discoloration when stem is cut. Plant typically dies within 2-3 weeks once wilt is visible.","organicManagement":["No organic cure; remove and destroy infected plants.","Solarize the bed with clear plastic for 6-8 weeks of midsummer sun."],"prevention":"Plant resistant varieties (look for F, FF, or FFF designation). Five-year rotation away from all nightshades. Avoid working beds when soil is wet.","regions":["all"],"source":"Cornell Cooperative Extension; UC IPM"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"late-blight","type":"disease","severity":"severe","symptoms":"Water-soaked dark green to brown blotches on leaves with pale-green halos. White downy growth on leaf undersides in humid conditions. Fruit develop dark greasy-looking patches. Whole plants collapse within days in cool wet weather.","organicManagement":["Copper-based fungicide (OMRI-listed) as a preventive when forecast turns cool and wet; rarely effective once symptoms appear.","Remove and bag infected plants immediately; do not compost.","Sanitize stakes, cages, and tools."],"prevention":"Plant resistant varieties (Mountain Magic, Defiant, Iron Lady). Avoid overhead watering. Provide airflow. Destroy volunteer tomato and potato plants. Buy certified disease-free seed potatoes.","regions":["all"],"source":"Cornell Cooperative Extension; USDA-APHIS late blight monitoring"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"verticillium-wilt","type":"disease","severity":"severe","symptoms":"V-shaped yellow patches on lower leaves spreading upward. Brown vascular discoloration in stems and roots. Wilting in midday heat with partial recovery overnight. Plants survive but produce reduced fruit.","organicManagement":["No organic cure; remove infected plants.","Solarize the bed for 6-8 weeks in midsummer."],"prevention":"Plant resistant varieties (V designation). Long rotation away from nightshades, strawberries, and stone fruit. Verticillium has a wide host range, so a 5-year break is conservative.","regions":["all"],"source":"WSU Extension; UC IPM"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"cutworm","type":"pest","severity":"high","symptoms":"Young transplants severed at the soil line overnight; fat gray-brown caterpillars (curled into a C) found in soil at the base.","organicManagement":["Cardboard or aluminum-foil collars (3 inches tall, 1 inch into the soil) around each transplant.","Bt-k drench at planting in heavy-pressure beds.","Handpick at night with a flashlight."],"prevention":"Tillage in fall exposes overwintering larvae. Beneficial nematodes (Steinernema carpocapsae).","regions":["all"],"source":"Cornell Cooperative Extension"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"deer","type":"pest","severity":"high","symptoms":"Whole branches torn off, fruit eaten. Deer often selectively eat the ripest fruit and the most tender new growth.","organicManagement":["8-foot fence is the single reliable answer; lower fences can work if angled.","Repellent sprays (rotten egg solids, hot pepper) need re-application every 2-3 weeks and after rain."],"prevention":"Plant ornamental allium and lavender at garden perimeter; deer dislike their smell.","regions":["all"],"source":"Penn State Extension"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"early-blight","type":"disease","severity":"high","symptoms":"Dark brown concentric-ring spots on lower leaves first, expanding upward. Yellow halo around each lesion. Stem cankers at the soil line. Defoliated lower stems with green upper canopy is the classic pattern.","organicManagement":["Copper-based fungicide (OMRI-listed) weekly once symptoms appear.","Remove and destroy infected leaves; do not compost.","Mulch heavily to block soil splash that spreads Alternaria spores."],"prevention":"Stake or cage plants for airflow. Drip irrigation, not overhead. Three-year rotation away from all nightshades. Resistant varieties (Mountain Magic, Iron Lady).","regions":["all"],"source":"Cornell Cooperative Extension; UC IPM"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"russet-mite","type":"pest","severity":"high","symptoms":"Lower stems and leaves turn bronze and brittle, working up the plant. Mites are too small to see without a 20x hand lens. Often diagnosed late.","organicManagement":["Sulfur (wettable powder) sprays at first signs.","Predatory mites (Amblyseius cucumeris)."],"prevention":"Avoid letting overgrown solanaceous weeds (nightshade, datura) near beds. Scout lower stems weekly.","regions":["all"],"source":"UC IPM"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"tobacco-mosaic-virus","type":"disease","severity":"high","symptoms":"Mottled light and dark green leaves. Distorted, narrow, fern-like new growth. Stunted plant, reduced yield.","organicManagement":["No cure; remove and destroy infected plants.","Sanitize tools and hands with non-fat milk between plants (milk denatures the virus)."],"prevention":"Tobacco users wash hands and tools before handling tomatoes. Resistant varieties (most modern hybrids carry Tm-2). Three-year rotation. Aphid control reduces vector pressure.","regions":["all"],"source":"Cornell Cooperative Extension"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"tomato-fruitworm","type":"pest","severity":"high","symptoms":"Small holes near the stem end of fruit. Inside, a 1-1.5 inch striped caterpillar (yellow-green to pink-brown) eating from the inside out. Same species as corn earworm.","organicManagement":["Spray Bt on developing fruit weekly during egg-laying flights.","Release Trichogramma wasps (egg parasitoid) when adult moths are first trapped.","Remove and destroy infested fruit; do not compost."],"prevention":"Pheromone traps to monitor adult flights. Plant trap crops of corn or sunflower at the bed edge to draw egg-laying moths away from tomatoes.","regions":["all"],"source":"UC IPM; Penn State Extension"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"tomato-hornworm","type":"pest","severity":"high","symptoms":"Large green caterpillars (3-4 inches at maturity) with white diagonal stripes and a curved horn at the rear. Defoliation of upper leaves first, working down the plant. Dark green droppings on lower leaves are usually the first sign before the caterpillar itself is spotted.","organicManagement":["Handpick into soapy water; the most effective control for small gardens.","Spray Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki) on foliage; works on larvae under 1.5 inches.","Encourage parasitic braconid wasps (white rice-like cocoons on hornworm backs); leave parasitized hornworms in place to release the next wasp generation.","Companion plant with dill, basil, marigold to draw braconid wasps."],"prevention":"Fall tilling exposes overwintering pupae to predators and freezing. Rotate nightshades on a 3-year cycle. Inspect plants twice weekly from July through August.","regions":["all"],"source":"Cornell Cooperative Extension; UC IPM"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"tomato-spotted-wilt-virus","type":"disease","severity":"high","symptoms":"Bronze-cast ring spots on leaves and fruit, stunting, one-sided ripening. Vectored by thrips. Hosts include many vegetables and flowers, so it spreads through gardens once established.","organicManagement":["Remove infected plants."],"prevention":"Resistant varieties (SWV-tolerant). Thrips control. Weed management at garden edges.","regions":["southern-us","southeast-us","southwest-us"],"source":"UF/IFAS Extension"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"anthracnose","type":"disease","severity":"moderate","symptoms":"Sunken circular spots with concentric rings on ripening tomato fruit. Brown spore-bearing structures in lesion centers. Worst on overripe fruit and during humid weather.","organicManagement":["Pick fruit at first blush of color, not full-ripe.","Copper-based fungicide on ripening fruit during humid spells."],"prevention":"Mulch to block soil splash. Drip irrigation. Three-year rotation. Stake plants.","regions":["all"],"source":"Cornell Cooperative Extension"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"aphid-green-peach","type":"pest","severity":"moderate","symptoms":"Soft-bodied green insects clustered on new growth and leaf undersides. Sticky honeydew on leaves below. Curled, distorted new leaves. Sooty mold on honeydew deposits.","organicManagement":["Strong water spray dislodges most aphids; repeat every 2-3 days.","Insecticidal soap or neem oil on heavy infestations.","Release lady beetles, lacewings, or syrphid fly larvae."],"prevention":"Avoid high-nitrogen fertilization that pushes soft new growth. Encourage beneficials by planting umbellifer flowers (dill, fennel, cilantro left to flower) at the bed edge.","regions":["all"],"source":"UC IPM; Xerces Society"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"bacterial-speck","type":"disease","severity":"moderate","symptoms":"Small dark brown to black spots (1/8 inch) with yellow halos on leaves and fruit. Worst in cool wet conditions.","organicManagement":["Copper sprays.","Remove infected leaves."],"prevention":"Hot-water seed treatment. Resistant varieties. Avoid overhead watering. Three-year rotation.","regions":["all"],"source":"Cornell Cooperative Extension"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"blossom-end-rot","type":"disease","severity":"moderate","symptoms":"Dark brown to black sunken leathery patch on the blossom end of fruit. Not a pathogen, a calcium uptake disorder. First-set fruit are the most susceptible; later fruit often clean up on the same plant.","organicManagement":["Remove affected fruit, the plant cannot recover individual fruit but later set is usually clean.","Mulch heavily and water deeply 1-2 times per week to keep soil moisture even."],"prevention":"Avoid drought stress at fruit-set; calcium uptake fails under fluctuating soil moisture, not under low soil calcium in most beds. Mulch. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizer at fruit-set.","regions":["all"],"source":"UC IPM; Cornell Cooperative Extension"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"buckeye-rot","type":"disease","severity":"moderate","symptoms":"Concentric brown rings on fruit touching wet soil (Phytophthora capsici and related). Worst on bottom fruit during heavy rains.","organicManagement":["Mulch to keep fruit off soil.","Remove infected fruit."],"prevention":"Stake plants. Mulch. Drip irrigation. Drain low spots.","regions":["southeast-us","south-central-us"],"source":"UF/IFAS Extension"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"leaf-mold","type":"disease","severity":"moderate","symptoms":"Yellow blotches on upper leaf surfaces with olive-green to gray-brown velvety mold on undersides. Common in high-tunnel and greenhouse production.","organicManagement":["Copper or Bacillus subtilis.","Remove infected leaves."],"prevention":"Reduce humidity (vents, fans). Wide spacing. Resistant varieties (Geronimo, Trust).","regions":["all"],"source":"Cornell Cooperative Extension"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"septoria-leaf-spot","type":"disease","severity":"moderate","symptoms":"Small circular spots (1/8 inch) with dark borders and gray-tan centers on lower leaves, with tiny black fruiting bodies visible in the center under a hand lens. Leaves yellow and drop from the bottom up.","organicManagement":["Copper or Bacillus subtilis (Serenade) sprays at first symptom.","Remove and destroy infected leaves at the first spot.","Mulch to block spore-laden soil splash."],"prevention":"Three-year rotation. Stake for airflow. Drip irrigation. Sanitize stakes and tools between seasons.","regions":["all"],"source":"Cornell Cooperative Extension; UC IPM"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"spider-mite","type":"pest","severity":"moderate","symptoms":"Yellow stippling on leaves, fine webbing on undersides. Tiny moving dots (red or two-spotted) under a hand lens. Worst in hot dry weather.","organicManagement":["Strong water spray (mites cannot fly; spray dislodges them).","Insecticidal soap or sulfur (avoid in hot weather).","Release predatory mites (Phytoseiulus persimilis)."],"prevention":"Avoid overhead watering during heat, but irrigate consistently; drought-stressed plants are mite magnets. Reflective mulch.","regions":["all"],"source":"UC IPM"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"stink-bug","type":"pest","severity":"moderate","symptoms":"Cloudy yellow blotches under fruit skin where stink bugs have fed. Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) also causes corky raised cat-facing scars.","organicManagement":["Handpick adults into soapy water.","Pyrethrin on heavy infestations."],"prevention":"Cleanup of weeds and brush at garden edges denies overwintering shelter to BMSB. Sticky traps with aggregation pheromone (Trissolcus japonicus releases are underway in some areas).","regions":["all"],"source":"Penn State Extension"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"whitefly","type":"pest","severity":"moderate","symptoms":"Tiny white moth-like insects flutter up when foliage is disturbed. Yellow stippling on leaf upper surface. Sticky honeydew and sooty mold below. Pupae are flat oval scales on leaf undersides.","organicManagement":["Yellow sticky traps placed at canopy height.","Insecticidal soap or neem oil, focused on leaf undersides, every 5-7 days.","Release Encarsia formosa (parasitoid wasp) in greenhouse settings."],"prevention":"Inspect transplants before bringing into the garden. Reflective silver mulch deters adults from landing.","regions":["all"],"source":"UF/IFAS Extension; UC IPM"}]}