Here is a close-up showing the sucker

Hi Salerna - your plant is badly infested with aphids. See all the tiny green bugs on the stems and leaves in the close up? Aphids suck moisture and nutrients out of the plant and that it why it looks this way. While a few won't cause much harm, if left untreated this degree of infestation can kill it.

A light infestation can be washed off the plant with a blast of water or killed with a soapy water spray but I don't think that will help much in this case and something stronger may be needed. First I'd try the soap spray (1 T of liquid soap to 1 gallon of water). Let it sit on the plant for about 30 minutes and then rinse it off and check the plant closely.

If they return you may wish to consider using something stronger. Search here or Google aphid treatments for more info on treatment recommendations.

Once treated, I'd feed the plant some 1/4 strength food to help it recover. Keep in mind that aphids are attracted to high nitrogen fertilizers so go with something made for tomatoes. Good luck.

Thank you so much..those aphids came with the plant![about 6 inches long]..they were and still are so embedded onto the stems that I thought it was this tomato's 'habit'!..OMG..thank you so much..I followed your instructions..fortunately, it's been overcast here..I found a few patches on the stems of my other mater but it's been growing fine..I sprayed it anyway..

I'll let you know how it works out..

Thanks again for your quick help.