What is Causing my Eggplant Leaves Turning Yellow?

Eggplant leaves turning yellow? Is there a problem with the plant? There are a variety of reasons why eggplant foliage becomes yellow, each of which is discussed here. The additional symptoms for each cause will be explained so that you can identify the issue with your eggplant plants, and we’ll also tell you what you need to do to treat each problem in more detail. Continue reading to find out what is causing your eggplant leaves turning yellow and what you can do to fix it.

Damage Caused by the Cold

Have your plants lately been subjected to freezing temperatures? Although the leaves will exhibit evidence of damage immediately, it may take between five and seven days for the eggplants themselves to begin showing signs of damage and develop symptoms. When it comes to cold damage, eggplants are more vulnerable than tomatoes or peppers.

Other indicators of cold damage include leaves that turn yellow and seem mushy or water-soaked, and then gradually turn black when the weather warms up again. After being exposed to the cold for an extended period of time, the surface of eggplants takes on a bronzed color.

It is possible that the seeds or the fruit within the eggplants have gone brown. Before decaying, the fruit will assume a water-soaked look, similar to that of the leaves.

Unfortunately, there is little you can do to assist a plant that has been damaged by the cold. All you can do is take precautionary measures to avoid cold-related harm before it occurs. Consider bringing sensitive plants such as eggplant inside or to a protected location such as a patio or shed before the cold weather sets in.

There are a variety of additional possibilities available. For more information, see our article on How to Protect Plants During the Winter Season.

Phomopsis Blight Attack

The infection level of Phomopsis blight must be high in order for the disease to manifest itself as yellowing leaves. Before they fall off the plant, the leaves will be damaged and discolored, and they will begin to wilt. Dark, deep sores on stems slightly above the soil’s surface will be visible.

In addition to browning, leaves may acquire circular lesions that are gray or brown in color with a lighter center. These lesions are not harmful. Eggplants will have pale, sunken, oval patches with concentric rings of small black dots that will appear on the surface of the plant.

Once Phomopsis blight has been found in your garden, there is little you can do to salvage the plants that have been afflicted. By removing and destroying any plants that exhibit indications of the illness, you may help to prevent it from spreading further. If you utilize these plants in compost, you run the danger of transmitting the illness to other people when the compost is turned over.

When resistant kinds of seed are available, use them whenever possible to avoid Phomopsis blight. When growing eggplant, it is best to employ a crop cycle that lasts three years or more. Following harvest, a lot of heavy plowing should be done to get rid of any traces of the blight and keep it from coming back through the winter.

Make every effort to avoid creating an excessively damp atmosphere, which fosters the development of several plant diseases. Ensure that you only water plants from the base and that you do not spray water over the leaves or wet the soil too far away from the base of the plants.

Due to the fact that plants can only take in water via their roots, moisture that splashes on their leaves or is too far away from the plant’s base will not be taken in and utilized by the plant. Excessive moisture on the leaves can also encourage the growth of fungal diseases such as Phomopsis blight. In order for air to flow between your plants and avoid excess wetness, make sure that your plants are spaced far enough apart in the yard or garden.

Eggplant Leaves Turning Yellow because of Spider mites

Spider mites are very small insects that may quickly spread across a plant before you realize it. Leaves that have been fed by these insects become a russet color on the underside and a yellow hue on the top, and the form of the leaves might become twisted in addition to the discoloration.

In certain cases, it is possible to detect webbing on the undersides of leaves if the issue is severe, as well as the insects themselves crawling on your eggplants.

One method of combating spider mites is to simply blast them with a stream of water from a high-pressure garden hose. This will remove the insects as well as any webs that they may have made. It is possible that you may need to repeat this therapy many times before it becomes successful.

Verticillium wilt Fungus

When plants get infected with verticillium wilt, the margins and tips of the leaves are the first to become yellow. As time passes, the whole leaf will finally turn yellow and wilt, indicating that it has reached its end. Lower leaves will be the first to be affected, and it is usual for just one side of the plant to be impacted at any given time. A lengthwise incision of the stem at the surface of the earth reveals that the core of the stem is bright green.

It is advisable to prevent the spread of the illness by removing and destroying any plants that have been infected. It is not recommended to utilize these plants in compost since doing so may increase the danger of disease spreading when the compost is used. Because verticillium wilt can stay in the soil even after afflicted plants are removed, it’s not a good idea to grow eggplants or other crops that are vulnerable there.

Eggplant Leaves Turning Yellow because of Virus Attack

Viruses may cause eggplant leaves to become mottled and discolored, with yellow and light green spots appearing on the leaves. Leaves may be curled or made long and thin, depending on their shape. Eggplants infected by this disease will have yellow spots or brown rings on them, and the development of the plants will be impeded.

There is no treatment for plant viruses, so if you feel a virus at the base of the darkening of your eggplant’s leaf, the only thing you can do is remove and destroy the affected plant. If you compost plants that are sick, you could spread the disease to other plants when it’s time to use the compost.

You should now be aware of the possible causes of the yellowing of the leaves on your eggplant plant. Use the additional symptoms to narrow down the specific problem that your plant is experiencing, and then follow the actions indicated to resolve the problem. In little time at all, your garden will be returned to its former glory.