Rutgers Cooperative Extension
Vegetable IPM Report 9-18-13 – Click to View | Download | Print
Current Week’s Pest Maps – Available Maps for the week are highlighted
African Fig Fly
In New Jersey, and the rest of the mid-Atlantic, we have two newly invasive fruit flies that attack grapes including wine grapes.
My lab is currently working to determine the impact these insects will have to the berries and to yield.
[Read more…]
The Fruit IPM Report for the week shows an upward trend with more Sharp-nosed Leafhopper (SNLH) adults maturing and moving around fields, making transmission of stunt disease to previously uninfected bushes more likely. This insect in the only regular target for post harvest sprays. Now is an appropriate time to treat.
SNLH feeds and reproduce on blueberry, huckleberry, cranberry, and other related plants. SNLH feeding causes little direct damage but it transmits the phytoplasma that causes stunt disease in blueberries. They are small brown insects with a pointed head (Figure 1). SNLH picks up the disease while feeding on infested bushes and carries it to other plants in subsequent feedings. Usually only adults will carry the disease from plant to plant, since nymphs are wingless and can’t fly (Figure 2). This insect completes two generations in New Jersey. Adults are abundant in the woods, where many alternative hosts are present, and may move to commercial blueberry fields in the spring. Eggs overwinter inside fallen leaves and hatch in mid-May. Nymphs complete 5 instars. Nymphs from the first generation reach adult stage in mid-June, while nymphs from the second generation reach adulthood in early August. Adults move back to the woods in the fall. Monitoring these generations is critical for timing of control strategies.
Fig 1:
Sharp-nosed leafhopper adult
Fig 2: Sharp-nosed leafhopper nymph (L)
and adult (R)
Stink Bugs, including the Brown Marmorated type (BMSB), have begun to show up in soybean fields around the state.
The Plant Management Network has developed a webcast titled “Impact and Management of BMSB in Mid-Atlantic Soybean”.
This talk by Virginia Tech entomology professor Ames Herbert Jr., covers:
Find the webcast at
http://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/edcenter/seminars/soybean/BMSB/
This 20-minute presentation is open access through November 30, 2013. Viewers can also opt to see a 2-minute executive summary version of the presentation. This shorter executive summary version is permanently open access courtesy of the United Soybean Board and supported by your New Jersey Soybean Board.
Septoria Leaf Spot
on Sunflower Leaf
Black Rot on butternut squash.
Note the distinctive lesion pattern.
Downy mildew on turnip leaves.
Note non-descript chlorotic lesions developing on top side of infected leaves. Under ideal conditions tufts on white sporangia will develop on underside.
There have been no new reports of Late blight.
Downy mildew has been found in turnip greens this past week. The expected rainfall and cooler temperatures to follow in the upcoming week make conditions favorable for downy mildew development across many crops.
Asparagus – Summer foliar diseases in Asparagus have been reported. With the cooler weather and all the rain we’ve have been experiencing on and off all summer disease pressure in asparagus is higher than normal. See article from 9/4/13 for more information.
Basil downy mildew remains active – All basil growers should scout on a daily basis and should add a labeled downy mildew specific fungicide to their weekly fungicide program. Phosphite fungicides (FRAC code 33), such as Prophyt, K-Phite, and Rampart have shown the best efficacy in trials at RAREC. Actinovate (OMRI- approved) is also labeled for downy mildew control. Please remember, all abandoned basil fields should be worked under immediately after last harvest to kill the foliage! Abandoned fields left unattended after use will only serve as a source of inoculum for other fields.
Cucurbit downy mildew and powdery mildew remains active in New Jersey.
