This fungus attacks the leaves and stems of tomato vines, causing the disease known as Phoma leaf -blight or stem-blight. Dark brown irregular spots with target rings and yellow haloes develop on leaves, stems, and fruit; spots on fruit are often at stem end and are sunken.
A fungus (plural, fungi) is a small, simple plant, which lacks the green color found in more complex plants, such as our orchard, field, and garden crops. Molds, yeast, toadstools, and mushrooms are good examples of fungi. Fungi can not make their own food, as green plants do, and many of them obtain it from living plants or their dead remains. Those fungi which obtain their food and energy from living plants are known as parasites, while the plants upon which they grow and feed are known as their hosts. Such fungi usually cause harmful changes in the structure, composition, and actiAities of their hosts, which are known as lesions. Such changes constitute disease. Thus, in Phoma rot of tomato fruits the fungus Phoma destrnctiva is the parasite which attacks and feeds upon its host, the tomato, causing spots or lesions, which are manifestations of the disease.
