Identify two common signs of bacterial wilt or fusarium in plants.

• A. Sudden wilting of leaves/branches; vascular discoloration (brown streaks) in stems and vascular tissue
• B. Leaf curling and fruit drop
• C. Uniform growth with no symptoms
• D. Excessive flowering

Answer: (A)

Vascular wilt diseases cause water transport problems inside the plant, so the key signs come from the plant struggling to move water from roots to leaves. The best two signs are a sudden wilting of leaves and branches, often happening even when the soil feels moist, and the presence of brown discoloration in the vascular tissue of the stem—brown streaks you can see when you cut or split the stem. This browning happens because the bacteria or fungus clog the xylem vessels, interrupting water flow and leaving visible changes inside the stem. While other symptoms like leaf curling or fruit drop can occur in various problems, the combination of abrupt wilting and vascular browning is typical of bacterial wilt and fusarium wilt.