Yellows or Fusarium Wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f.sp conglutinans)

Symptoms

• The disease affects the seedlings in nursery stage, however plants exhibit symptoms 2 to 4 weeks after transplanting.
• Initial symptom appears as the development of yellowish green colour on one side of the plant.
• A lateral warping or curling of the stem and leaves occurs.
• The lower part of the leaf blade adjoining the petiole or midrib wilts and dies.
• The lower leaves turn yellow and later the upper leaves are affected.
• With time, the yellow leaves turn brown and the affected tissue becomes dry and brittle.
• Disease development is promoted by warm weather conditions
• The speed of progress of disease in the plant depends upon the degree of varietal susceptibility and the soil temperature.

Management

• The use of resistant varieties is the only control.
• However, as a preventive measure the vulnerable stage of the young seedlings to the infection can be avoided by very early sowing of cabbage.