- The cool, damp weather the past week has been ideal for downy mildew development on spring crops. Growers are advised to scout fields on a regular basis
- The heavy rains and damp, cool weather have been ideal conditions for early-season damping off caused by Pythium. Growers should continue to scout on a regular basis and remain proactive in their fungicide programs as long as current weather patterns continue.
- Cercospora leaf spot on swiss chard has been reported.
- Bacterial leaf spot of parsley has been reported.
- Basil downy mildew has been reported in greenhouses in North Carolina.
- Cucurbit downy mildew has been reported as far north as St. Lucie County, Florida.
- For more information on controlling these and other important diseases please see the 2019 Mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Production Guide. The guide is available for FREE online by following the links on the Plant and Pest Advisory website. Hardcopies of the 2019 guide can be purchased through your local county Extension office.
May 21, 2019 Andy Wyenandt
Vegetable Disease Update – 5/21/19
May 14, 2019 Andy Wyenandt
Vegetable Disease Update – 5/14/19
- The cool, damp weather the past week has been ideal for downy mildew development on spring crops. Growers are advised to scout fields on a regular basis
- The heavy rains and damp, cool weather have been ideal conditions for early-season damping off caused by Pythium. Growers should continue to scout on a regular basis and remain proactive in their fungicide programs as long as current weather patterns continue.
- Sunburn on stems of newly transplanted peppers on black plastic mulch has been reported.
- Cercospora leaf spot on swiss chard has been reported this past week.
- Cucurbit downy mildew has been reported as far north as St. Lucie County, Florida.
October 2, 2018 Andy Wyenandt
An Introduction To Rutgers Downy Mildew Resistant Sweet Basils
After nearly a decade’s worth of research and breeding efforts Rutgers Downy Mildew Resistant (DMR) sweet basils are now available to commercial growers with seed for homeowners and gardeners becoming available in 2019. Since 2007, when basil downy mildew (BDM) was first identified in FL, the disease has caused significant economic losses to commercial basil growers throughout the United States, and has made growing sweet basil in the backyard garden nearly impossible. Since 2009, Rutgers has been working diligently to identify and breed downy mildew resistance into commercially-acceptable sweet basils that have the correct aromas, essential oils, and flavors. The first of these three new DMR sweet basils are now available through VanDrunen Farm Specialty Seed (VDFSS) located in Thermal, CA and Momence, IL. Each of the new Rutgers DMR sweet basils have their own unique characteristics which can be matched to meet grower needs.
Rutgers Obsession DMR: An excellent sweet basil for field or potted plant production; will also make an excellent edible landscape plant; more compact, slower growth than Devotion DMR and Thunderstruck DMR, high leaf-to-stem ratio – good for small bunches or small size clam shells, dark green, thick, glossy leaves, flowers form late; and highly resistant to Fusarium wilt.
Rutgers Devotion DMR: An excellent Genovese-type sweet basil for field production for fresh markets; establishes quicker than Obsession DMR with uniform, upright growth, dark, green color with flat to cup-shaped leaves.
Rutgers Thunderstruck DMR: An excellent sweet basil with high yields needed for processing- and fresh-market production; quick establishment and fast, upright growth with medium-sized, ruffled leaves with a bright green color.
For more information on Rutgers DMR sweet basils please contact VanDrunen Specialty Seeds in the link above. For more information on basil downy mildew, our research, and our new DMR sweet basils follow us on Instagram at #RutgersBasil.
October 1, 2018 Andy Wyenandt
Vegetable Disease Update – 10/01/18
- Anthracnose fruit rot has been found on pumpkin.
- Bacterial stalk rot in sweet corn has been reported.
- Downy mildew has been reported in bok choy. Cole crops, as well as leafy greens, need to be scouted on a regular basis and preventative sprays applied as long as wet weather continues.
- Pepper anthracnose has been reported. If found in field, weekly fungicide maintenance sprays are needed. Abandoned fields should be mowed down immediately.
- Bacterial leaf spot and Phytophthora blight and fruit rot remain active in pepper and cucurbit crops.
- Alternaria leaf spot has been reported on broccoli.
- Anthracnose has been reported in turnip.
- Cercospora leaf spot has been reported on swiss chard and beets.
- Basil downy mildew is being reported. Recent weather has been ideal for its development. For more information on Rutgers newly-released DMR sweet basils Obsession, Devotion, and Thunderstruck please click here. Follow the Rutgers Basil Downy Mildew Breeding Program on Instagram at #RutgersBasil
September 18, 2018 Andy Wyenandt
Vegetable Disease Update – 9/18/18
- Cucurbit downy mildew. All cucurbit growers should scout their fields on a regular basis and inlcude a downy mildew specific fungicide to their weekly maintenance sprays.
- The 2018 FRAC Table for Cucurbit Downy and Powdery Mildew Control in the mid-Atlantic Region can be found and downloaded for FREE here and is essential for developing control strategies for both diseases.
- Bacterial stalk rot in sweet corn has been reported.
- Downy mildew has been reported in bok choy. Cole crops, as well as leafy greens, need to be scouted on a regular basis and preventative sprays applied as long as wet weather continues.
- Pepper anthracnose has been reported. If found in field, weekly fungicide maintenance sprays are needed. Abandoned fields should be mowed down immediately.
- Alternaria leaf spot has been reported on broccoli.
- Anthracnose has been reported in turnip.
- Late blight has been reported on tomato in Western PA. There have been no reports of late blight in the immediate region.
- Bacterial leaf spot and Phytophthora blight and fruit rot remain active in pepper and cucurbit crops.
- Cercospora leaf spot has been reported on swiss chard and beets.
- A nice article by Dr. Beth Gugino, Penn State, on gray mold and late blight in high tunnel tomatoes can be found here.
- Remember, copper applications on hot days with high relative humidity can cause phytotoxicity on a number of crops.
- Basil downy mildew is being reported. Recent weather has been ideal for its development. For more information on Rutgers newly-released DMR sweet basils Obsession, Devotion, and Thunderstruck please click here. Follow the Rutgers Basil Downy Mildew Breeding Program on Instagram at #RutgersBasil
August 13, 2018 Andy Wyenandt
Vegetable Disease Update – 8/13/18
- Cucurbit downy mildew has been confirmed on cucumber, butternut squash, and pumpkin in NJ this growing season. Recent weather has been ideal for its development. All cucurbit growers should scout their fields on a regular basis and consider adding a downy mildew specific fungicide to their weekly maintenance sprays.
- CDM has been reported in giant pumpkin and cantaloupe in MD this past week, and in acorn, summer squash, watermelon and butternut squash as far north as North Carolina to date.
- Cucurbit powdery mildew is being reported.
- The 2018 FRAC Table for Cucurbit Downy and Powdery Mildew Control in the mid-Atlantic Region can be found and downloaded for FREE here and is essential for developing control strategies for both diseases.
- There have been no new reports of late blight in the region.
- Basil downy mildew is being reported. Recent weather has been ideal for its development. For more information on Rutgers newly-released DMR sweet basils Obsession, Devotion, and Thunderstruck please click here. Follow the Rutgers Basil Downy Mildew Breeding Program on Instagram at #RutgersBasil
- Bacterial leaf spot and Phytophthora blight have been reported in pepper and cucurbit crops.
- Remember, copper applications on hot days with high relative humidity can cause phytotoxicity on a number of crops.
- Cercospora leaf spot has been reported on swiss chard and beets.
