logo: University of Minnesota Extension Gardening Information

What's wrong with my plant?

Tomato > Fruit > Soft and rotted fruit

1 of 6
  • Image: 1
    Credit: Michelle Grabowski
  • Image: 2

    Credit: Michelle Grabowski

  • Image: 3

    Credit: Janna Beckerman

  • - CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE -

green arrowAnthracnose
Colletotrichum coccodes

  • Infections are visible only on ripe and over ripe tomatoes
  • Fruit spots are sunken and round
  • Mature fruit spots have a black center
  • Fruit spots produce pink spores with moisture
  • No visible spots on leaves and stems
  • More information on Anthracnose...
2 of 6
  • Image: 1
    Credit: Michelle Grabowski
  • Image: 2

    Credit: Michelle Grabowski

  • Image: 3

    Credit: Michelle Grabowski

  • - CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE -

green arrowBlossom End Rot
Abiotic

  • Affects only fruit
  • The bottom of the tomato turns tan and soft, then black, sunken, and rotten
  • Fruit may look short or stumpy, not fully expanded due to rot
  • Common when water levels vary from irrigation or drought followed by rain
3 of 6
  • Image: 1
    Credit: Michelle Grabowski
  • Image: 2

    Credit: Michelle Grabowski

  • Image: 3

    Credit: Michelle Grabowski

  • - CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE -

green arrowAlternaria Fruit Rot
Alternaria alternata

  • Sunken round to irregular spot on fruit
  • Center of the spot is fuzzy and black
  • Spots occur anywhere on fruit, often on the sides or shoulders
  • Can occur on ripe or green fruit
4 of 6

green arrowLate Blight
Phytophthora infestans

  • Irregular watersoaked lesions on leaves, turn olive then brown
  • Leaves, stems and petioles turn brown and shrivel
  • Fruit spot is round olive colored, can cover whole fruit
  • Infected tissue is covered with white mycelia is wet weather
  • Disease spreads very rapidly in cool wet weather
  • More information on Late Blight...
5 of 6
  • Image: 1
    Credit: Sue Morris
  • Image: 2

    Credit: Sue Morris

  • - CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE -

green arrowCold injury

  • Leaves look water-soaked and soft, then turn black
  • Fruit becomes soft water-soaked and rots
  • Leaves show injury immediately, fruit may not show symptoms for 5 to 7 days
  • Occurs at temperatures below 50° F
6 of 6
  • Image: 1
    Credit: Michelle Grabowski
  • Image: 2

    Credit: Michelle Grabowski

  • Image: 3

    Credit: Michelle Grabowski

  • - CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE -

green arrowWhite Mold
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

  • Dark, firm watersoaked lesion on stem
  • Girdled stems die and turn bone white
  • Inside dead stems are black mouse poop shaped sclerotia
  • Fruit are soft and rotted
  • Cottony white mycelia inside and outside infected stems when humidity is high
  • Favored by cool humid conditions

Don't see what you're looking for?