Andy Wyenandt

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

June 13, 2023

Cucurbit Downy Mildew Alert – Cucumber – 6/13/23

Cucurbit downy mildew has been confirmed on cucumber in Atlantic County in southern New Jersey. This is the first report of CDM in the state and region this growing season. All cucumber and cantaloupe growers should scout on a daily basis and initiate a preventative fungicide program immediately. All other cucurbit plantings need to be scouted on a regular basis. CDM was last confirmed on cucumber and butternut squash in coastal South Carolina. Remember, some CDM isolates fall into Clade I which predominately infect watermelon, pumpkin, and squash, where CDM isolates in Clade II predominately infect cucumber and cantaloupe.

For more information on CDM, the clades, and CDM control please click here.

Cucurbit downy mildew

Cucurbit downy mildew sporulating on the underside of an infected cucumber leaf.

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With:
February 23, 2023

‘Fields of Devotion’ screening in New Brunswick, 2-4pm on March 3rd

Movie Poster
When climate change-induced diseases wipe out farmers’ fields, growers turn to scientists for help. Fields of Devotion, a 30-minute science-in-action film, follows the decade-long partnership between Rutgers plant biologists, the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES), and New Jersey small family farmers as they work together to develop resilient basil crops. A story of hard work, collaboration, and innovative solutions for a rapidly changing world, Fields of Devotion is told from the perspective of local farmers and plant biology graduate students who together help realize Rutgers’ land grant mission of community engagement and academic excellence.
This event is free but registration is requested to ensure seating.
Secure your seat for this exclusive free documentary screening, including a panel discussion and networking reception.

Please click here to RSVP today.

Event Time:  2:00pm – 4:00pm, Friday March 3, 2023
Event Location:
New Jersey Institute for Food, Nutrition, and Health
School of Environmental and Biological Sciences
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
61 Dudley Road
New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8520
IFNH, George H. Cook Campus
Agenda For March 3, 2023 Film Screening Event
  • Fields of Devotion film screening
  • A discussion with the film’s featured farmers and scientists
  • Networking reception for farmers, scientists, and students
Who Should Attend? This two-hour event will provide valuable information to farmers, scientists, and students working in the agricultural field.
Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
January 30, 2023

Critical Updates for the 2023 Vegetable Production Season

The Critical Updates for the 2022/2023 Mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations are now available for FREE.

The 2022/2023 Mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations guide is available FREE on-line or can be purchased in hardcopy form through your county agricultural office in New Jersey. The complete Vegetable Production Recommendations guide or specific sections can be downloaded depending on your production needs.

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With:
January 28, 2023

Fields of Devotion film screening at 2023 New Jersey Agricultural Convention & Trade Show at Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City, on Tuesday February 7th.

Movie poster for Fields of Devotion

Fields of Devotion (30 minutes) features New Jersey farmers and Rutgers scientists partnering to develop climate resilient and disease resistant food crops to empower growers.

Discussion with the featured farmers and scientists immediately following screening.

Watch the Fields of Devotion trailer by clicking here.

Event description: Small family farms in New Jersey are racing against climate change. Unpredictable weather and new diseases are threatening the very crops they depend upon.  Fields of Devotion follows the decade long partnership between Rutgers plant biologists, the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES), and New Jersey herb farmers who together developed lines of sweet basil resistant to downy mildew, a devastating disease destroying Ocimum species around the world.

Building upon more than a century of Rutgers’ support for New Jersey growers, Fields of Devotion is told from the perspective of the farmers and graduate science students who together help realize Rutgers land grant mission of community engagement and academic excellence.

For those attending the New Jersey Vegetable Growers Association (NJ-VGA) or the New Jersey Department of Agriculture’s (NJDA) 2023 Annual Meeting we cordially invite you to please join us this February 7th at 3:30 pm in Wildwood Rooms 8 and 9.

Contact: Andy Wyenandt, Extension Specialist in Vegetable Pathology, Rutgers University

email: wyenandt@njaes.rutgers.edu

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Organic Production, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , ,
January 23, 2023

Fungicides for use in the greenhouse table available in 2022/2023 Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations

The 2022/2023 Mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations Guide has newly updated tables for selected conventional and organic fungicides for use on greenhouse vegetables. This information can be found in the Pest Management Section E in Table E-11 on pages 137-141.

The 2022/2023 Mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations guide is available FREE on-line or can be purchased in hardcopy form through your county agricultural office in New Jersey. The complete Vegetable Production Recommendations guide or specific sections can be downloaded depending on your production needs.

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops
January 16, 2023

Damping-off: Identifying and Controlling Pathogens in Transplant Production in 2023

It is extremely important to know which pathogen is causing damping-off problems and which fungicide to properly apply. The key to controlling damping-off is being proactive instead of reactive. Always refer to the fungicide label for crop use, pathogens controlled, and application rates.

Damping-off is caused by a number of important vegetable pathogens and is very common during transplant production. Damping-off can kill seedlings before they break the soil line (pre-emergent damping-off) or kill seedlings soon after they emerge (post-emergent damping-off). Common pathogens that cause damping-off include Pythium, Phytophthora, Rhizoctonia and Fusarium spp.

Control of damping-off depends on a number of factors. First, is recognizing the conditions which may be leading to the problem (i.e., watering schedule/greenhouse growing conditions) and second, identifying the pathogen causing the problem. Reducing the chances for damping-off always begins with good sanitation practices prior to transplant production.

Conditions Favoring Damping-off

Although all four pathogens are associated with damping-off, the conditions which favor their development are very different. In general, Phytophthora and Pythium are more likely to cause damping-off in cool, wet or overwatered soils that aren’t allowed to dry out due to cloudy weather or cooler temperatures. Conversely, Rhizoctonia and Fusarium are more likely to cause damping-off under warmer, drier conditions especially if plug trays are kept on the dry side to help reduce transplant growth. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With: ,