What is the Difference Between Bacterial Wilt and Fusarium Wilt

The main difference between bacterial wilt and fusarium wilt is that bacterial wilt occurs by Corynebacterium, Erwinia, Pseudomonas, and Xanthomonas, whereas Fusarium wile occurs by Fusarium oxysporum, a fungus.

Bacterial wilt and fusarium wilt are two types of wilts that are common symptoms of plant disease. Generally, the water loss in leaves and stems results in wilt. Normally, fungi, bacteria, and viruses cause wilt.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Bacterial Wilt
   • Definition, Characteristics, Importance
2. What is Fusarium Wilt
   • Definition, Characteristics, Importance
3. Similarities Between Bacterial Wilt and Fusarium Wilt
   • Outline of Common Features
4. Difference Between Bacterial Wilt and Fusarium Wilt
   • Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Bacterial Wilt, Fusarium Wilt

What is Bacterial Wilt

Bacterial wilt is a disease or disease symptom caused by plant-pathogenic bacteria. Generally, it results in drooping of leaves and stems or plant dieback from lack of water (inadequate water supply or excessive transpiration). Moreover, bacterial wilt is a vascular bacterial disease that interrupts normal water uptake. If we look at the causes, bacterial wilt is caused by numerous species of the genera Corynebacterium, Erwinia, Pseudomonas, and Xanthomonas. These bacteria generally induce stunting, wilting, and withering, starting with younger leaves. Also, in bacterial wilt, stems often shrivel and wither and show discolored water-conducting tissue.

Figure 1: Bacterial Wilt

Moreover, bacterial wilt may be managed by growing resistant varieties, planting disease-free materials in well-drained, fertile soil that is clean or sterilized, observing stringent sanitation including weed- and insect-control measures, and rotating susceptible crops.

What is a Fusarium Wilt

Fusarium wilt is any of various plant wilt diseases caused by fungi of the genus Fusarium. Generally, the fungus Fusarium oxysporum is a disease-causing fungus that is a soil-inhabiting fungus. It thrives at soil temperatures above 24 °C. Several hundred plant species such as sweet potatoes, tomatoes, legumes, melons, and bananas are susceptible to the disease.  Moreover, this fungus can live indefinitely in soil without access to living host plants.

Figure 2: Fusarium Wilt

Furthermore, infected plants turn pale green to golden yellow and wilt, wither, die, and drop off progressively upward from the stem base. In the xylem, dark streaks occur in the roots and in the lower stem. For the removal of the fungal infection, it’s important to clean seeds and remove infected plant tissues from the area, though the most effective management strategy is to plant resistant varieties. Soil fungicides can also control the disease.

Similarities Between Bacterial Wilt and Fusarium Wilt

• Bacterial wilt and Fusarium wilt are two types of plant disease conditions in which wilting is the main symptom.
• Generally, different microorganisms cause these diseases.
• The symptoms of the diseases include stunting, wilting, and withering, starting with younger leaves.
• Moreover, discoloration of the xylem is the major observation of both diseases.
• Growing resistant varieties can help to overcome these diseases.

Difference Between Bacterial Wilt and Fusarium Wilt

Definition

Bacterial wilt refers to a disease or disease symptom caused by plant-pathogenic bacteria while fusarium wilt refers to any of various plant wilt diseases caused by fungi of the genus Fusarium.

Type of Disease

Usually, bacteria cause bacterial wilt while a fungus cause fusarium wilt.

Type of Microorganisms

Numerous genera cause bacterial wilt including Corynebacterium, Erwinia, Pseudomonas, and Xanthomonas, while Fusarium oxysporum causes fusarium wilt.

Young Leaves

Young leaves become stunted, wilted, and withered in bacterial wilt, while in fusarium wilt, young leaves become pale green to golden yellow color.

Disease Prevention

Planting disease-free materials in well-drained, fertile soil that is clean or sterilized, observing stringent sanitation including weed- and insect-control measures, and rotating susceptible crops can prevent bacterial wilt, while clean seeds and removing infected plant tissues from the area can prevent fusarium wilt.

Conclusion

In brief, bacterial wilt and fusarium wilt are two types of plant disease conditions. Corynebacterium, Erwinia, Pseudomonas, and Xanthomonas are the genera that cause bacterial wilt while Fusarium oxysporum is the fungus that causes fusarium disease. Therefore, bacterial wilt is caused by bacteria while fusarium wilt is caused by a fungus. This is the main difference between bacterial wilt and fusarium wilt. In both cases, the symptoms include stunting, wilting, and withering of the stem and leaves. In addition, the main prevention method for both types of wilt is the growing of resistant varieties. 

References:

1. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (n.d.). Wilt. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved August 31, 2022
2. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (n.d.). Fusarium Wilt. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved August 31, 2022

Image Courtesy:

1. “Bacterial wilt ” By Eeshie – Own Work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Fusarium wilt symptom tobacco ” By R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Slide Set – Own Work  (CC BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia