Rutgers University | New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station | Pesticide User Responsibility

Andy Wyenandt

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

July 10, 2015

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.

Diagnostic symptoms of Verticillium wilt in eggplant.

Diagnostic symptoms of Verticillium wilt in eggplant
Photo by Kris Holmstrom

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Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With: ,
July 10, 2015

Leaf Mold in Tomato

Leaf mold (formerly Fulvia fulva) has been confirmed in field-grown tomatoes in Cape May County.

Leaf mold occasionally appears in high tunnel or greenhouse tomato production in New Jersey. However, under ideal conditions the disease will develop in field-grown crops. The fungus will cause infection under prolonged periods leaf wetness and when relative humidity remains above 85%. If relative humidity is below 85% the disease will not occur. The pathogen can survive (overwinter) as a saprophyte on crop debris or as sclerotia in the soil. Conidia (spores) of the fungus can also survive up to one year in the soil.

Symptoms of leaf mold on infected tomato plant. Note the bright yellow leaves and the olive-green spores developing on the undersides of leaves.

Symptoms of leaf mold on infected tomato plant. Note bright yellow leaves and olive-green spores developing on undersides of leaves.

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Filed Under: Organic Production, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: ,
July 9, 2015

Cucurbit Downy Mildew Confirmed on Cucumber in NJ – ALERT – 7/9/15

Cucurbit downy mildew has been confirmed on cucumber in Salem County, New Jersey. This is the first report of cucurbit downy mildew in the state this growing season. The pathogen has also been found on watermelon in DE and MD and on cucumber in PA.

All cucurbit growers should consider adding a downy mildew specific fungicide to their weekly fungicide program. For more information on the control please see the 2015 Commercial Fungicide Recommendations Guide.

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops
July 9, 2015

Anthracnose and Alternaria Leaf Blight in Cucurbit Crops

Anthracnose and Alternaria leaf blights are showing up in cucurbit crops. Weather conditions in the region continue to be ideal for disease development across all vegetable crops. The regular rainfall and high humidity that have plagued the region only acts to exacerbate problems. All cucurbit growers should be on high alert for foliar diseases such as anthracnose and Alternaria as well as downy mildew. Anthracnose and Alternaria produce distinct circular spots on infected leaves, and in most cases, symptoms begin on the older leaves.

Symptoms of anthracnose on infected cucumber leaf.

Symptoms of anthracnose on infected cucumber leaf.

With Alternaria, diagnostic concentric black rings will be develop within the spots. With Anthracnose, black setae (hair-like projections) will develop on the veins of infected tissue on the underside of leaves.

Anthracnose and Alternaria are easily controlled with weekly protectant fungicides such as chlorothalonil and mancozeb as long as they are applied prior to the arrival of the pathogen. Control of downy mildew will require downy mildew specific fungicides. As long as these weather conditions persist all growers need to remain on strict weekly protectant fungicide programs and be scouting on a daily basis. Organic growers can apply copper and other labeled products to help suppress development of these diseases.

Complete foliar coverage is critically important for the control these diseases.

For more information on the control of anthracnose and Alternaria leaf blight in cucurbit crops please see the 2015 Commercial Vegetable Production Guide.

Filed Under: Organic Production, Vegetable Crops
July 9, 2015

Want More Information on Late Blight, Cucurbit Downy Mildew & Other Vegetable Diseases?

Look for it in the Vegetable Crops Edition Sidebar (shown right).

As with Rutgers, other universities in the mid-Atlantic region share important information with vegetable growers in their respective states. Much of this information is extremely useful for conventional and organic vegetable growers in New Jersey. All of this information is shared, along with our own, through our Plant and Pest Advisory website! Important disease alerts and information is fed into our Plant and Pest Advisory from Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Virginia through the links that appear in the right side bar. All you need to do is click on the link!

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops
July 8, 2015

Cucurbit Downy Mildew ALERT – 7/8/15

Cucurbit downy mildew has been found on cucumber in Southeastern Pennsylvania in Berks county. Cucurbit downy mildew has also been reported in cucumber in Western NY as well as Eastern MD and DE on watermelon this past week. Weather conditions in the region have been ideal for its development. All cucurbit growers who have not initiated a weekly protectant fungicide program should do so immediately and consider adding downy mildew specific fungicides. For more information on the control of downy mildew in cucurbit crops please see the 2015 Commercial Fungicide Recommendations Guide.

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops