Andy Wyenandt

This is an archive of Dr. Wyenandt's posts on the Plant and Pest Advisory.

July 31, 2026 Ramandeep Kumar Sharma, Patrick McMullen and Andy Wyenandt

Agri-Technology, Nursery, Agronomy, Fruit and Vegetable Research Twilight Meeting at RAREC: Wednesday August 26, 2026

Agri-Technology, Nursery, Agronomy, Fruit and Vegetable Research Twilight Meeting at RAREC

Wednesday August 26^th, 2026 (4 pm until dark)

Location: Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center (RAREC), 121 Northville Road, Bridgeton, New Jersey 08302

Hosted by: Ramandeep Kumar Sharma, Patrick McMullen, and Andy Wyenandt

Questions? Contact: Andy Wyenandt (wyenandt@njaes.rutgers.edu)

This year’s twilight meeting at RAREC will showcase advances in crop production, integrated pest management, soil fertility, weed management, and innovative agricultural technologies for growers and stakeholders across the state.

Dan Ward, Director, RAREC. Welcome to RAREC
Wesley Kline, Cumberland County Agricultural Agent
- ‘Impact of Cyclospora on fruit and vegetable production’ CORE: 30 minutes
Tim Waller, Cumberland County RCE Nursery Agent.
- ‘Useful Nursery and Ornamental Crops and Considerations’
Raul Cabrera, Extension Specialist in Nursery Production and Management.
- ‘Recent developments on substrates (for container-grown crops)’
Dan Ward, Director, RAREC; Rutgers Agrivoltiacs Program.
- ‘Update on the agrivoltaics research program at Rutgers’
Ann Nielsen, Extension Specialist in Entomology
- Emma Waltman, PhD candidate, ‘Land-use around farms impacts stink bug biological control’
- Amanda Furuya, Post-Doctoral Associate, ‘Tackling Spotted Lanternfly in South Jersey Vineyards’
- Octavio Menocal Sandoval, Post-Doctoral Associate, ‘Updating Monitoring and Management for Codling Moth in Apple’
Thierry Besancon, Extension Weed Specialist for Specialty Crops.
- ‘Update on new technologies for weed management in vegetable crops’
Ramandeep Kumar Sharma, Salem County Agricultural Agent.
- ‘Optimizing Nitrogen Rate and Application Timing for Corn Yield and Quality’
- ‘Evaluation of Sulfur Fertilizer Sources and Application Rates for Optimizing Soybean Growth and Yield in Southern New Jersey’
Maria Cramer, Senior Program Coordinator, Vegetable IPM,
- ‘Thrips management in tomatoes’
Patrick McMullen, Atlantic County Agricultural Agent.
- ‘Wilts of cucurbits: Identification and management’
Andy Wyenandt, Extension Specialist in Vegetable Pathology.
- ‘Updates on vegetable disease control’

NJDEP pesticide recertification credits are pending approval. Expected credits include CORE (1), PP2 (4), 1A (4), 3A (2), and Category 10 (3).

Filed Under: Agrivoltaics, Commercial Ag Updates, Disease Forecasting, Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, pesticide credits, training, Tree Fruit, vegetable, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape, work shop

July 29, 2026 Andy Wyenandt

Diagnosing Southern blight and White mold in tomato and pepper

There have been a number of reports of Southern blight (Athelia rolfsii; formerly Sclerotinia rolfsii) on tomato and pepper in New Jersey. Southern blight is much more common in vegetable growing regions south of the state where summer temperatures remain hotter (above 90°F) for longer periods of time. Like white mold, it can survive in the soil for many years. Symptoms of Southern blight include infection at the base of the stem at the soil line. The resulting infection will girdle the plant causing wilt and death. The fungus will produce white, cottony mycelium and very small, spherical sclerotia which are often have a tannish, brown color.

In most years, White mold is more common than Southern blight in New Jersey; however the hotter temperatures and wet weather patterns across the state this summer has led to more Southern blight being reported. Like Southern blight, once White mold is present in a field or high tunnel it can very difficult to control. The pathogen produces large black sclerotia on the surface and inside infected stems. If sclerotia of either pathogen make their way back into the soil, both can survive for many years causing significant long-term problems.

All infected plants need to be removed from the field or high tunnel immediately and disposed of properly to help reduce the chances of sclerotia returning to the soil. Timely fungicide applications applied through drip or as directed sprays at the base of the plant can help mitigate disease pressure. For more information on control of both diseases please see the 2026/2027 mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations Guide.

Symptoms of Southern blight on infected pepper plant. Note the numerous, small white to tan colored sclerotia on the stem.

White mold of tomato. Note the large black sclerotia developing inside the brittle stems.

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With: pepper, southern blight, tomato, white mold

July 29, 2026 Andy Wyenandt

Basil downy mildew confirmed in southern New Jersey – ALERT 7/29/26

Basil downy mildew has been confirmed in field grown sweet basil in southern New Jersey. This is the first confirmed report of BDM in the state and region this growing season. All basil growers are encouraged to scout their fields or greenhouses on a daily basis. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With: basil downy mildew

July 27, 2026 Andy Wyenandt

Vegetable Disease Update – 7/27/26

There have been no reports of Late blight in the region.

There have been no reports of basil downy mildew.

Anthracnose fruit rot in pepper has been reported in southern New Jersey.

There have been continued reports of southern blight caused by Athelia rolfsii (formerly Sclerotium rolfsii) in tomato and pepper in southern New Jersey. For more information on Southern blight and Timber rot please click here.

Phytophthora blight has been reported on multiple crops in New Jersey.

There have been no reports of cucurbit downy mildew in New Jersey and the mid-Atlantic region. CDM has been reported as far north as North Carolina on cantaloupe and cucumber to date. To follow the progress of CDM in the US please visit the CDMpipe website here.

Bacterial leaf spot in pepper and tomato continues to be reported.

Resistance-breaking strains of Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (RB-TSWV) have been reported in southern New Jersey. Please click here for more information on TSWV.

Please follow our weekly Vegetable IPM Updates to stay current on insect pests and vegetable diseases throughout the growing season!

For more information on these diseases and their control please see the NEW 2026/2027 Mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations Guide.

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops

July 27, 2026 Andy Wyenandt

Anthracnose fruit rot in bell and non-bell pepper

Pepper Anthracnose

Pepper anthracnose was reported last week in southern New Jersey.

Unlike in tomato, where symptoms are only present in mature (red) fruit, pepper anthracnose can infect bell or non-bell pepper fruit at any growth stage. Unfortunately, there are no commercially-available bell or non-bell peppers with known resistance to anthracnose; however breeding efforts continue. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With: Pepper anthracnose, peppers

July 1, 2026 Andy Wyenandt

Vegetable Disease Update – 7/1/26

There have been reports of southern blight caused by Athelia rolfsii (formerly Sclerotium rolfsii) in tomato and pepper in southern New Jersey. For more information on Southern blight and Timber rot please click here.