There are some systemic diseases that cause ASAP wilting of the whole plant with no color change of foliage and some where the wilting is more gradual involving indivudual branches and leaves may turn color, etc,

And I'm keeping in mind the brown area at the soil line.

So, any brown lesions on the stems? Please look carefully.

Any spots on the leaves? If so, please describe in detail.

Carolyn

Carolyn,

Thanks. The leaves don't have spots. However, this afternoon I noticed a woody brown area (about an inch above the soil line) on the other Rinaldo plant, and also one on the Ernesto plant in the neighboring pot. The spot is only about 3/4 of an inch in diameter and superficially looks like a bit of dead brown leaf pasted on the stem.

The first, wilted Rinaldo plant I mentioned has done what I suppose is the tomato equivalent of sending out lifeboats: it has numerous tiny root bumps going about eight inches up the stem. I don't know if I could cut the plant off there and stick it in water or wet soil to get it to re-root, but it might bring the disease with it also.

GTG

Carolyn,

I found a picture. I think this is early blight.

A fungicide is recommended for control, but I don't know which one to use, and whether there are possibly any organic alternatives.

Thanks.

GTG

Here is a link that might be useful: Early blight picture

GTG,

The wilting and yellow leaves that you've already described and not compatible with a diagnosis of Early BLight.

EB is a foliage disease and lesions on the stems with spots on the leaves would be very very unusual and you've described no spots on the leaves, just yellow wilting leaves.

So, any typical spots of EB on the leaves?

I'm tending to think a systemic disease.

What you describe on the main stem are called root primordia and are quite normal. Transfer of any plant part when it's a systemic disease can transfer the disease/

Carolyn

Plants can have a few yellow leaves and that is natural--you can also get yellow leaves from overwatering and excess fertilizer salts. What kind was the 7-4-2? Plus 2 plants in 10 gallon container (though others may disagree) is too many. One is all I would ever put in a 10 gal. container. (with 2 the yield would be terrible)
I tend to think it was your watering (and possibly fert.) that caused the problem not necessarily disease. Plus the overcrowding in one pot.

I tend to think it was your watering (and possibly fert.) that caused the problem not necessarily disease.

I would too Farkee if it weren't for the brown lesions GTG is describing at the soil line which isn't typical for just waterlogged soils and wilting plants and yellow leaves.

Carolyn