Verticillium wilt on eggplant

Eggplant is one of the most susceptible vegetables to Verticillium wilt. Where the disease is present in soil, standard eggplant varieties often show yellowing and decline by midsummer, stunting fruit production precisely when plants should be at peak productivity. The challenge is that.

Eggplant is one of the most susceptible vegetables to Verticillium wilt. Where the disease is present in soil, standard eggplant varieties often show yellowing and decline by midsummer, stunting fruit production precisely when plants should be at peak productivity. The challenge is that Verticillium is widespread in garden soils where any susceptible vegetable has been grown, and most home gardeners have it whether they know it or not.

I don't grow eggplant at my Long Island property, so this guide draws on University Extension and USDA research.

The pathogen

Verticillium wilt of eggplant is caused primarily by Verticillium dahliae. Per UC IPM, eggplant is considered highly susceptible compared to other solanaceous crops. V. dahliae infects eggplant through root tissue, colonizes the xylem vessels, and blocks water transport. Because the pathogen's host range includes tomatoes, peppers, strawberries, and many ornamentals, eggplant is exposed to high soil inoculum wherever those crops have grown.