For cucurbit growers who have been using the CDMpipe website the past few years to track the progress of cucurbit downy mildew in the US, a new website was relaunched for the 2020 growing season. Anyone can visit the new website by clicking here. Please take the quick survey to help our colleagues out! To receive alerts please click on the Alerts tab at the top of the page!
May 30, 2021 Andy Wyenandt
With rainfall, so comes Phytophthora and Pythium
Most of New Jersey has finally gotten rain and pop-up thunderstorms making conditions ideal for pathogens such as Phytophthora and Pythium on spring-seeded and transplanted crops. Unfortunately, Pythium and Phytophthora blight can be found on most farms in the southern part of the state. Poor crop rotations with susceptible hosts only make matters worse. The Phytophthora pathogen has an increasing host range that now includes snap and lima beans; and all crops, other than a few resistant bell pepper cultivars, lack any resistance to the pathogen. [Read more…]
May 29, 2021 Andy Wyenandt
Survey continuing for bacterial leaf spot and copper resistance in 2021 growing season
Copper resistance has been detected in bacterial leaf spot of tomato and pepper and in Pseudomonas chicorii, the causal agent of bacterial leaf spot in basil, in New Jersey. While not surprising, copper resistance has been known to develop for decades now; however, this is the first time it has been confirmed in vegetable crops in New Jersey. [Read more…]
May 28, 2021 Andy Wyenandt
2020/2021 Mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations available on-line
The 2020/2021 Mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations guide is still available for FREE on-line. The complete 2020/2021 Vegetable Production Recommendations guide or specific sections can be downloaded depending on your production needs.
May 27, 2021 Andy Wyenandt
Controlling Cercospora leaf spot in beet
Cercospora leaf spot (CLS), caused by Cercospora beticola, is an important and emerging disease in beet and swiss chard production in New Jersey. Efforts to control this disease has become more difficult in the past few years in some areas of southern New Jersey. [Read more…]
May 26, 2021 Andy Wyenandt
Diagnosing Verticillium Wilt in Eggplant
Verticillium wilt is a common soil-borne fungal pathogen that once it has infested soil can remain for a very long time. Verticillium wilt is caused by either Verticillium albo-atrium or Verticillium dahlia and has a wide host range (over 200 plant species). Both pathogens can survive (overwinter) as microsclerotia in the soil. Verticillium wilt prefers cooler weather and drier soils and can be more severe in neutral to alkaline soils. Solanaceous weeds such as Nightshade may harbor the pathogen. [Read more…]
