Field library

Bacterial Wilt

A germ in the soil that gets in through the roots and blocks the water pipes inside the stem. The plant looks fresh in the morning but droops in the afternoon heat, and within a few days the whole plant dies while its leaves are still green. Cut the stem near the ground and stand it in a glass of clear water, and a milky thread runs out of it.

How to scout

Watch for single plants wilting in the midday heat while their leaves are still green, then cut one stem across and dip it in clear water to see whether a milky thread comes out.