Scientists, growers, students and Cooperative Extension specialists gathered at UC Davis on Wednesday as part of Vegetable Disease Field Day, hosted by the Department of Plant Pathology.

Two sessions – one in Spanish, one in English – focused on tomato and crop rotation research being conducted in plant pathology fields on campus.

More than 70 people attended the English session, which included stops at three locations and was led by Cassandra Swett, an assistant Cooperative Extension specialist in plant pathology.

In one field, researchers talked about experiments comparing disease in tomato plants experiencing normal and low-water irrigation. Research there showed water-saving irrigation systems can enhance vine decline and rot diseases.

Scientists also discussed studying how different varieties, or cultivars, of tomato plants react to the pathogen Fusarium falciforme.

“We know that certain cultivars perform better,” Swett said.

Attendees also learned about new research that involves rotating tomato crops with garlic and potential bulb rot challenges. Identifying the parasitic weed broomrape and related sanitation methods were also discussed.