Verticillium wilt?
http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/mg/pathology/tomato.html

Could be. The stem symptoms sound like it. I don't have the lower leaf thing happening yet. Can I spray with anything? Is Daconil for this?

Barb, it could be just rot from too much rain which wouldn't be uncommon.

Do the plants have any other symtoms of Verticillium, which can affect just one branch at a time?

If it is V, no, there is no treatment b/c its a soil borne systemic infection. Actually most plants grow out of it in our region, with some exceptions.

Carolyn

Carolyn, you are a dear and a great resource. I think/want it to be rot from the rain. The rest of plant is beautiful and no one around it (Grandfather Ashlock!) is doing the same thing. I'll just let it sit there and keep my fingers crossed, not that I'm superstitious (to quote Fats Waller).

Thank you.