powdery mildew on stem??

RomanX · June 20, 2015

I have (had) two Tumbling Tom plants in a 5-gallon shop bucket. The runt is (was) about 9 inches tall, with 2 short leaf branches and 4 fruit.

I was alarmed when I saw white, powdery stuff on the top 2/3 of the runt's stem, extending a bit on one branch and the tomato cluster . . . .I panicked and, when I couldn't pull the runt out, cut it off at the red rubber mulch level (1 inch on top of the container soil) BEFORE I took pics (so, I do not have any pictures).

What was it?

Did I over react?

Is there something I should do or spray to mkeep it from spreading to my other plant / other containers??

Goldie321 · June 20, 2015

If it's the same powdery mildew that's been attacking the basil down here in Florida, get rid of the entire plant. It will spread. It started attacking basil plants down here last year and we haven't been able to raise any. Even the plants from Bonnie at different locations are affected. We've seen it in the plant racks in different locations.

RayR · June 20, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goldie321

If it's the same powdery mildew that's been attacking the basil down here in Florida, get rid of the entire plant. It will spread. It started attacking basil plants down here last year and we haven't been able to raise any. Even the plants from Bonnie at different locations are affected. We've seen it in the plant racks in different locations.

Basil Downy Mildew is what you have in Florida, that's where it was first discovered. It's a completely different pathogen specific to basil and does not affect tomato plants.

Goldie321 · June 20, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by RayR

Basil Downy Mildew is what you have in Florida, that's where it was first discovered. It's a completely different pathogen specific to basil and does not affect tomato plants.

Actually, it is thought that it probably originated elsewhere but because of the symptoms was originally treated as a nutritional deficiency.

http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.corne...asilDowny.html This is from Cornell University's Dept. of Plant Pathology, Ithaca, NY.

RomanX · June 20, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by RomanX

I have (had) two Tumbling Tom plants in a 5-gallon shop bucket. The runt is (was) about 9 inches tall, with 2 short leaf branches and 4 fruit.

I was alarmed when I saw white, powdery stuff on the top 2/3 of the runt's stem, extending a bit on one branch and the tomato cluster . . . .I panicked and, when I couldn't pull the runt out, cut it off at the red rubber mulch level (1 inch on top of the container soil) BEFORE I took pics.

What was it?

Did I over react?

Is there something I should do or spray to mkeep it from spreading to my other plant / other containers??

added:
Here are pics, where all can see this white, powdery ????? on the stem of my tomato plant. Please answer my questions.

RayR · June 20, 2015

Unfortunately the closeups are too blurry to be helpful.
It may be Sclerotinia (White Mold)
Cut the stem open and see if there is any growth inside.

RomanX · June 20, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by RayR

Unfortunately the closeups are too blurry to be helpful.
It may be Sclerotinia (White Mold)
Cut the stem open and see if there is any growth inside.

I went and cut the stem open: all normal, nothing there that's not sposed to bwe there!

BUT in positioning the stem to cut, an 1/8 in of whit JUMPED at me! Then when I went to cut the stem the second time, ANOTHER powdery white tiny oblong capsule JUMPRED at me again!!

I guess The Stuff is some kind of bug and its residue!!

Still, is it contageous? Should I spray? Qu8arantee?

RayR · June 20, 2015

Spittlebug?

Wikipedia article

Starlight · June 23, 2015

It's a bug. No it is not contagious to your other plants. I get it occasionally here. When I see the white cottony looking residue on the stem which is a bi-product of the pest, I just use my fingers and wipe it off. As you found out if the pest is around, it will jump away to another plant. They a pain to chase and catch and squish. Unless I have a major problem, I just let the spiders and other beneficials catch them.

clkeiper · June 23, 2015

Spray it with a good stiff spray of water from the garden hose. If the stuff is moving it may be wooly aphids.

beeman · June 23, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by clkeiper

Spray it with a good stiff spray of water from the garden hose. If the stuff is moving it may be wooly aphids.

In which case Insecticidal Soap will get rid of them.

Tracydr · June 23, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by RayR

Unfortunately the closeups are too blurry to be helpful.
It may be Sclerotinia (White Mold)
Cut the stem open and see if there is any growth inside.

Noticed something like this on one of my strawberry plants this week. We've been crazy hot and humid. It's fuzzier than powdery mildew that I've seen before. Do they get this,too?

RayR · June 23, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tracydr

Noticed something like this on one of my strawberry plants this week. We've been crazy hot and humid. It's fuzzier than powdery mildew that I've seen before. Do they get this,too?

Yes strawberry too. It's a stem rot though, not something you would see on leaves like PM.

TheUrbanFarmer · June 24, 2015

Woolly Aphids.

June 20, 2015	#1
RomanX Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: North Carolina Posts: 119	powdery mildew on stem?? I have (had) two Tumbling Tom plants in a 5-gallon shop bucket. The runt is (was) about 9 inches tall, with 2 short leaf branches and 4 fruit. I was alarmed when I saw white, powdery stuff on the top 2/3 of the runt's stem, extending a bit on one branch and the tomato cluster . . . .I panicked and, when I couldn't pull the runt out, cut it off at the red rubber mulch level (1 inch on top of the container soil) BEFORE I took pics (so, I do not have any pictures). What was it? Did I over react? Is there something I should do or spray to mkeep it from spreading to my other plant / other containers??

June 23, 2015	#10
clkeiper Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ohio Posts: 4,350	Spray it with a good stiff spray of water from the garden hose. If the stuff is moving it may be wooly aphids. __________________ carolyn k

June 20, 2015	#2
Goldie321 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Florida USA Posts: 116	If it's the same powdery mildew that's been attacking the basil down here in Florida, get rid of the entire plant. It will spread. It started attacking basil plants down here last year and we haven't been able to raise any. Even the plants from Bonnie at different locations are affected. We've seen it in the plant racks in different locations.

June 20, 2015	#6
RayR Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Posts: 2,466	Unfortunately the closeups are too blurry to be helpful. It may be Sclerotinia (White Mold) Cut the stem open and see if there is any growth inside.

June 23, 2015	#9
Starlight Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: AL Posts: 1,993	It's a bug. No it is not contagious to your other plants. I get it occasionally here. When I see the white cottony looking residue on the stem which is a bi-product of the pest, I just use my fingers and wipe it off. As you found out if the pest is around, it will jump away to another plant. They a pain to chase and catch and squish. Unless I have a major problem, I just let the spiders and other beneficials catch them.

June 24, 2015	#14
TheUrbanFarmer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Zone 8a Posts: 64	Woolly Aphids.