Andy Wyenandt

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

October 7, 2020

Neopestalotiopsis – Something to scout for in fall-transplanted strawberry

A fungal disease has been identified in some fall-transplanted strawberry fields in New Jersey. The pathogen, Neopestalotiopsis spp., causes a leaf spot and fruit rot in strawberry. Up until recently, the pathogen was considered a secondary pathogen. However, the disease has been found in strawberry production in FL where leaf, fruit, petiole, crown, and root symptoms were observed, and yield was severely affected. Dieback has been up to 50% in some New Jersey plantings this fall (Fig. 1). Symptoms on infected leaves include brown to tan circular spots (Fig. 2) that under the right environmental conditions will produce numerous black pycnidia (Fig. 3). Fruit infections look similar to anthracnose fruit rot. Growers who have purchased strawberry plants this fall should scout their fields immediately and contact their County Agricultural Agent if suspect plants are found.

For more information on Neopestalotiopsis please see links below from NCSU and FL.

https://strawberries.ces.ncsu.edu/2020/09/a-new-disease-is-emerging-neopestalotiopsis-fruit-rot/

https://vegetablegrowersnews.com/news/neopestalotiopsis-fruit-rot-seen-n-florida-strawberries/

(Article for use with permission only)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , ,
September 30, 2020

Vegetable Disease Update – 9/30/20

  • Rhizoctonia root rot and leaf spots have been reported in fall transplanted strawberry. All growers are encouraged to be proactive in controlling these diseases as fall approaches. For more information on controlling important diseases in strawberry please click here.
  • Sand blasting has been reported on a number of leafy green and other crops these past few weeks. Injury from sand blasting predisposes plants to bacterial infections. Remember, all bacteria need a wound or a natural opening, such as a stomata, to gain entry into the plant. Fields with extensive injury need to be scouted regularly, and most likely will need to be sprayed regularly with a copper fungicide or disinfectant-type product to help mitigate infection and spread.
  • With the extremely wet weather coming across New Jersey on a regular basis, all growers are encouraged to scout fields on a regular basis and remain proactive in mitigating foliar diseases in leafy green and other fall planted crops.
  • Downy mildew has been reported on collards and kale.
  • Black rot has been reported on cabbage and broccoli.
  • Cercospora leaf blight has been reported on beet.
  • Alternaria and Cercospora have been reported on spinach.
  • For more information on the control of the diseases mentioned above please see The 2020/2021 Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations Guide which is available for free online! With many county offices running reduced hours or being closed this is the easiest way to obtain the newest recommendations.
Filed Under: Vegetable Crops
September 30, 2020

Understanding root rots in fall-seeded and transplanted crops

Damping-off is caused by a number of important vegetable pathogens and is very common at seeding and transplanting in spring and fall. 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) or soon after transplanting. Common pathogens that cause damping-off include Pythium, Phytophthora, Rhizoctonia, and Fusarium spp.

It is extremely important to know which pathogen is causing the damping-off problem and which fungicide to properly apply.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With:
September 14, 2020

Vegetable Disease Update – 9/14/20

  • No reports of Late blight in region. Late blight was reported in tomato and potato in western NY with no immediate threat to New Jersey. To track the progress of Late blight in the US please click here.
  • Cucurbit downy mildew remains active on cucumber and cantaloupe in New Jersey. There have been no reports of CDM in other cucurbit crops in the region to date. For a review of CDM control please click here. To track the progress of CDM on your phone or PC please visit the CDM forecasting website.
  • Cucurbit powdery mildew (CPM) season continues. Growers should continue regular fungicide programs to help maintain foliage through harvest. For a review of CPM control strategies please click here.
  • All cucurbit plantings that are no longer in production should be destroyed immediately after the last harvest by mowing or with herbicide to reduce the risk of harboring of CDM, CPM, and virus.
  • Alternaria and Cercospora leaf blights have been reported in carrot plantings.
  • Bacterial leaf blight has been reported in collards.
  • Pepper anthracnose is still active in southern New Jersey and is a serious problem in all bell and non-bell peppers, especially in fields with a history of the disease. For more information on controlling pepper anthracnose please click here.
  • Bacterial leaf spot is still extremely active in in bell and non-bell peppers. For more information on BLS and copper resistance please click here.
  • Basil downy mildew (BDM) remains active. All growers are encouraged to initiate preventative fungicide programs on DMR and non-DMR basil. For control options and to follow the progress of BDM in the US on your phone or PC please click here.
  • With the on and off again heavy rains we have been getting, all growers should consider applying at-transplanting fungicides for root rot control in fall crops. Please click here to see these articles.
  • For more information on the control of the diseases mentioned above please see The 2020/2021 Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations Guide which is available for free online! With many county offices running reduced hours or being closed this is the easiest way to obtain the newest recommendations.
Filed Under: Vegetable Crops
August 12, 2020

Vegetable Disease Update – 8/12/20

  • No reports of Late blight in region. To track the progress of Late blight in the US please click here.
  • Cucurbit downy mildew remains active on cucumber in southern and northern New Jersey. There have been no reports of CDM in other cucurbit crops in the region to date. For a review of CDM control please click here. To track the progress of CDM on your phone or PC please visit the CDM forecasting website.
  • Cucurbit powdery mildew (CPM) season is here. For a review of CPM control strategies please click here.
  • All cucurbit plantings that are no longer in production should be destroyed immediately after the last harvest by mowing or with herbicide to reduce the risk of harboring of CDM, CPM, and virus.
  • Septoria leaf spot, also known as Celery late blight (Septoria apiicola) has been reported in celeriac, or turnip-rooted celery. It is a fungal pathogen that can be seed-borne and can also survive in the soil for up to 18 months. For more information from UC-IPM please click here.
  • Hail damage has been reported in various crops.
  • Bacterial wilt, Plectosporium blight, and Virus have been reported in cucurbit plantings. For more information on Plectosporium please click here and for more information on bacterial wilt please click here.
  • Pepper anthracnose has been reported in southern New Jersey and is a serious problem in all bell and non-bell peppers, especially in fields with a history of the disease. For more information on controlling pepper anthracnose please click here.
  • Bacterial leaf spot is extremely active in in bell and non-bell peppers. For more information on BLS and copper resistance please click here.
  • Phytophthora blight and Pythium cottony leak has been reported in pepper fruit, and Phytophthora blight in cucurbit crops. For more information please click here.
  • Basil downy mildew (BDM) remains active. Hail damage has been reported in basil. All growers are encouraged to initiate preventative fungicide programs on DMR and non-DMR basil. For control options and to follow the progress of BDM in the US on your phone or PC please click here.
  • With the on and off again heavy rains we have been getting, along with warmer weather, all growers should consider applying at-transplanting fungicides for root rot control. Please click here to see these articles.
  • For a quick review on managing fungicide resistance development using tank mixes and fungicide rotations, and information on FRAC group 4, FRAC group 7, and FRAC group 3 and FRAC group 11 fungicides please click on hyperlinks.
  • For more information on the control of the diseases mentioned above please see The 2020/2021 Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations Guide which is available for free online! With many county offices running reduced hours or being closed this is the easiest way to obtain the newest recommendations.
Filed Under: Vegetable Crops
August 1, 2020

Vegetable Disease Update – 8/1/20

  • No reports of Late blight in region. To track the progress of Late blight in the US please click here.
  • Cucurbit downy mildew remains active on cucumber in southern New Jersey. There have been no reports of CDM in other cucurbit crops in the region to date. For a review of CDM control please click here. To track the progress of CDM on your phone or PC please visit the CDM forecasting website.
  • Cucurbit powdery mildew (CPM) season is here. For a review of CPM control strategies please click here.
  • All cucurbit plantings that are no longer in production should be destroyed immediately after the last harvest by mowing or with herbicide to reduce the risk of harboring of CDM, CPM, and virus.
  • Bacterial wilt, Plectosporium blight, and Virus have been reported in cucurbit plantings. For more information on Plectosporium please click here and for more information on bacterial wilt please click here.
  • Pepper anthracnose has been reported in southern New Jersey and is a serious problem in all bell and non-bell peppers, especially in fields with a history of the disease. For more information on controlling pepper anthracnose please click here.
  • Bacterial leaf spot is extremely active in in bell and non-bell peppers. For more information on BLS and copper resistance please click here.
  • Phytophthora blight has been reported in pepper and cucurbit crops. For more information please click here.
  • Basil downy mildew (BDM) remains active. All growers are encouraged to initiate preventative fungicide programs on DMR and non-DMR basil. For control options and to follow the progress of BDM in the US on your phone or PC please click here.
  • With the on and off again heavy rains we have been getting, along with warmer weather, all growers should consider applying at-transplanting fungicides for root rot control. Please click here to see these articles.
  • For a quick review on managing fungicide resistance development using tank mixes and fungicide rotations, and information on FRAC group 4, FRAC group 7, and FRAC group 3 and FRAC group 11 fungicides please click on hyperlinks.
  • For more information on the control of the diseases mentioned above please see The 2020/2021 Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations Guide which is available for free online! With many county offices running reduced hours or being closed this is the easiest way to obtain the newest recommendations.
Filed Under: Vegetable Crops