Septoria Leaf Spot
- Issue type
- disease
- Seedborne
- No
- Resistance code
- -
- Affects
- Tomato
Symptoms
Many small circular spots with dark margins and tan-gray centers peppered across lower leaves, distinguished from early blight by spot size (small and numerous) and tiny black fruiting bodies visible in lesion centers. Defoliates from the bottom up in wet seasons.
Management
Same cultural playbook as early blight, mulch, prune, rotate, water at the base, but with essentially no resistant commercial varieties, sanitation and protectant sprays carry the load in wet-summer regions.
Varieties with documented resistance
| Variety | Level | Code | Basis | Days | Breeding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Lady | tolerant | - | Independently observed | 75-80 | F1 hybrid |
| Jasper | tolerant | - | Breeder declared | 60-65 | F1 hybrid |
This is the page where the difference matters most, because it is where a variety gets chosen for its resistance. Breeder declared means the claim comes from whoever breeds or sells the seed, which for most resistance genes is the only evidence that exists. Independently observed means an institution with no stake in the sale grew the plant and reported what happened.
Sources & References
Evidence: 1 source, an independent reference.
- Vegetable MD Online · Cornell University, Plant Pathology, University or Government