Today we are going to talk about a type of disease that attacks various crops and that is quite complex to eliminate since it requires being very curious. Its about Verticillium. It is a fungus that attacks the pistachio crop, among others, and has a very great facility to spread and infect other crops. Its elimination can be complicated if its operation is not well understood.

Therefore, we are going to dedicate this article to tell you all the characteristics, symptoms and how to eliminate Verticillium.

Key features

It is a type of fungus that attacks the pistachio crop, in addition to other crops such as cotton, beet, sunflower, olive, alfalfa, pepper, potato, tomato, eggplant, etc. The best way to defend yourself against this type of disease is to take good care of the implements. All the tools must be disinfected before using in a plantation since if we bring the scissors from an infected plantation, the glue plantation that you use again, it will end up being infected.

Since woody crops are expanding little by little, it is normal for Verticillium to begin to be planted in these lands where these woody crops are grown. These mushrooms have been busy trying other crops and had a smaller area of ​​distribution given that the amount of these crops than the smaller.

It is a type of fungus that causes a vascular disease known as Verticillosis. There are varieties of Verticillium depending be attacked from the ground or directly to the tree. For example, the soil variety is known as Verticillium dahliae, while the one that attacks the tree is known as Verticillium albo-atrum. These species can remain in the soil for 15 years. This is the main reason why is capable of killing more than 300 species of plants as well as a great variety of fruit and ornamental trees.

Normally, the modus operandi of this fungus is to penetrate the tree through the root system. You can also do it sporadically due to the wounds you have in your aerial part. Therefore, we must be careful with pruning tools, implements and some activities that are carried out to avoid contagion. For example, it can be spread through irrigation water, some pruning tools, contaminated seeds, or transplants from other contaminated plants nearby. Keep in mind that just one cubic centimeter of soil can contain hundreds of microstructures of this fungus.

Crop changes and Verticillium

When we are sowing different varieties and we want to re-sow in a soil, we must be careful because it is infected. In the event that there are people who have vine it is advisable to analyze the soil before modifying the crop. And it is that, although before it was not well known if this fungus attacked the vine, today it is known that it does. In the event that the soil analysis knew that there is no presence of Verticillium, the ideal is to focus on prevention to reduce the chances of contagion.

This fungus spreads more easily when we have a constant watering. If we are bringing the plant a high metabolic movement and that it has large contributions of water, it will not also extract a greater contribution of fertilizers. It is true that a strong plant, well fed and in good condition is going to defend itself better against Verticillium. Thus, it is essential to nourish the plants well and give them good environmental conditions.

In our country, not in many cases of Verticillium, but in California it has become a serious problem since it has become ungovernable and the plantations have to be abandoned.

Verticillium symptoms

We are going to analyze now what are the main symptoms that Verticillium has. The first thing is that it appears in just one branch one foot. It begins to dry the plant from the top down and is what is known by the name of slow decay. One of the names by which Verticillium is also known is "dry." This name comes from the main symptom that this disease has.

The first leaves that are attacked are rolled longitudinally and form a gutter to later dry. Fruits and leaves that have been attacked and are already becoming dry stay on the plant and do not fall off all summer. These fruits and leaves are unknown by the name of mummified. And it is as if this disease could turn the fruits and leaves that it manages to dry into a mummy.

Some stems acquire a purple hue but inside they have a darker coloration. Keep in mind that trees such as the pistachio tree have just been destroyed by the Verticillium.

Solution treatment

We are going to see what are the main solutions that can be given to these fungi. Keep in mind that the fungicides used today are not effective against this fungus. Thus, Preventive measures to avoid the spread of these fungi is of vital importance. Any crop that we have must maintain certain precautionary conditions to avoid the fungus.

Soil moisture is one of the most influential factors in the development of Verticillium. This is the reason why the irrigation system plays a determining role so that the effects of the Verticillium distribution are not dominant. We must avoid puddles when watering and avoid the abundance of weeds. These weeds are responsible for retaining large amounts of moisture.

When spring begins is when temperatures are found from 20 degrees and there are wet and cool soils. All these conditions are favorable for the development of this fungus. It is best to uproot the affected tree including its root. In this way we manage to reduce the spread of the fungus. Finally, we must apply the fungicide on the land where the affected tree has been. This fungicide can be propamocarb or quinosol and solarization is carried out, covering the entire soil with transparent polyethylene throughout the summer season.

I hope that with this information you can learn more about Verticillium and its consequences.