critical severity

Tomato Bacterial WiltIdentification & Treatment Guide 2026

Q: How can I tell bacterial wilt apart from Fusarium wilt?

Two key differences: (1) Bacterial wilt causes rapid wilting (2-3 days) with NO yellowing — leaves stay green. Fusarium wilt causes gradual yellowing before wilting, often on one side first. (2) The ooze test: cut a freshly wilted stem and place it in a glass of clear water. Bacterial wilt produces milky white bacterial streaming within 1-2 minutes. Fusarium wilt does not.

Q: Can bacterial wilt spread through irrigation water?

Yes. Ralstonia solanacearum can survive in water for months. Irrigation from contaminated rivers, ponds, or drainage channels is a significant means of spread. Use clean water sources (well water, municipal water) or treat surface water before use.

Q: Why does bacterial wilt seem to appear suddenly?

The bacterium can multiply to very high levels inside the plant before symptoms appear. Once the xylem vessels are sufficiently blocked by bacterial exopolysaccharides, the plant wilts rapidly. This means the infection has been developing internally for days to weeks before the sudden visible collapse.

Ralstonia solanacearum · Family: Burkholderiaceae

Tomato bacterial wilt (Ralstonia solanacearum) causes sudden, rapid wilting of entire plants without yellowing. Cut stems placed in water ooze milky white bacterial streaming. There is no chemical cure. Use resistant varieties, crop rotation with non-solanaceous crops, grafting onto resistant rootstock, and strict sanitation. The bacterium persists in soil and irrigation water.

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Quick Diagnosis

critical

Tomato Bacterial Wilt

Affects: rootsstemsleaves
Peak Season: Hot weather (optimum 30-35°C), particularly during rainy season with warm saturated soils
Spread Risk: Fast
Spread By: Infested soil, contaminated irrigation water, infected transplants, root-to-root contact, contaminated tools

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Symptoms: What does Tomato Bacterial Wilt look like?

Visual identification guide — tap each stage for details

Young leaves wilting at top of tomato plant during midday from bacterial wilt — Initial wilting of youngest leaves during hottest hours

Milky white bacterial streaming from cut tomato stem in water ooze test — Diagnostic ooze test — milky bacterial streaming in clear water

Entire tomato plant collapsed from bacterial wilt with green leaves — Complete plant collapse — note leaves remain green, not yellowed

ระยะเริ่มต้น

Wilting of youngest leaves during hottest part of day
Youngest leaves at the top of the plant wilt during midday heat, recovering at night. This temporary wilting is often the first sign.

ระยะกลาง

Rapid permanent wilting of entire plant
Within 2-3 days, wilting becomes permanent and affects the entire plant. Leaves remain green — no yellowing precedes the wilt. Cut stem placed in clear water shows milky white bacterial streaming (ooze test).

ระยะท้าย

Plant death with brown vascular tissue
Plant collapses and dies rapidly. Stem cross-section shows dark brown, water-soaked vascular tissue that oozes milky bacterial slime when squeezed. Roots are brown and water-soaked.

Causes: Why is my plant getting Tomato Bacterial Wilt?

Environmental triggers and disease cycle

Warm saturated soils (>25°C)
Wounds on roots from transplanting, nematodes, or cultivation
Contaminated irrigation water (especially from ponds or streams)
Previous history of bacterial wilt in the field
Acidic soils (pH < 6.0)

Disease Lifecycle

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Host Plant

Susceptible crop

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Pathogen

Ralstonia

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Conditions

Hot weather (optimum 30-35°C), particularly during rainy season with warm saturated soils

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Infection

Penetrates tissue

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Symptoms

Visible signs

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Spread

Infested soil

Often confused with: Tomato Fusarium Wilt, Potato Late Blight. See our comparison guide.

How to Treat Tomato Bacterial Wilt

Tick each step as you complete it — works offline too

🌿 OrganicSafe for all farms

Organic Treatment Steps

4 steps

Remove and destroy wilted plants immediately — bag them before pulling to prevent soil disturbance spreading bacteria.
Graft susceptible varieties onto bacterial wilt-resistant rootstock (Hawaii 7996, CRA 66).
Apply Trichoderma and Bacillus subtilis biocontrol agents to planting holes at transplanting.
Amend soil with lime to raise pH to 7.0 and incorporate mature compost to promote antagonistic soil microbiome.

🧪 ChemicalUse protective equipment

Chemical Treatment Steps

3 steps

No bactericide effectively controls Ralstonia solanacearum in the field. Prevention and resistance are the only reliable approaches.
Soil fumigation with chloropicrin before planting provides partial reduction of bacterial populations.
Apply bleach (sodium hypochlorite 1%) drench around removed infected plants to partially sanitize immediate area.

Prevention & Seasonal Calendar

Year-round protection plan for your crops

Pre-Planting

Use resistant or tolerant varieties and resistant rootstock for grafting
Rotate for 3-5 years with non-host crops (rice, maize, onion — NOT potato, pepper, eggplant)
Raise soil pH to 6.5-7.0 with agricultural lime

Mid-Season

Avoid working in fields when soil is very wet
Sanitize tools with 10% bleach or 70% alcohol between plants during operations
Do not use river or pond water that may be contaminated for irrigation

Post-Harvest

Manage root-knot nematodes to prevent root wounds

🛡️ Resistant Varieties

Hawaii 7996 (rootstock)CRA 66 (rootstock)King Kong 2 (partial resistance)BW348

🌼 Companion Planting

These plants can reduce Tomato Bacterial Wilt pressure when grown nearby:

marigoldallium

View full seasonal calendar for your region →

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Tomato Bacterial Wilt

How can I tell bacterial wilt apart from Fusarium wilt?

Two key differences: (1) Bacterial wilt causes rapid wilting (2-3 days) with NO yellowing — leaves stay green. Fusarium wilt causes gradual yellowing before wilting, often on one side first. (2) The ooze test: cut a freshly wilted stem and place it in a glass of clear water. Bacterial wilt produces milky white bacterial streaming within 1-2 minutes. Fusarium wilt does not.

Can bacterial wilt spread through irrigation water?

Yes. Ralstonia solanacearum can survive in water for months. Irrigation from contaminated rivers, ponds, or drainage channels is a significant means of spread. Use clean water sources (well water, municipal water) or treat surface water before use.

Why does bacterial wilt seem to appear suddenly?

The bacterium can multiply to very high levels inside the plant before symptoms appear. Once the xylem vessels are sufficiently blocked by bacterial exopolysaccharides, the plant wilts rapidly. This means the infection has been developing internally for days to weeks before the sudden visible collapse.

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Related Disease

Tomato Fusarium Wilt

Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici

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Related Disease

Potato Late Blight

Phytophthora infestans

🌿

Affected Plant

Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum

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Treatment Guide

Full Treatment Protocol

Detailed spray schedule & dosage guide

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