Andy Wyenandt

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

April 12, 2016

Understanding Damping-off Pathogens in Transplant Production

Damping-off is caused by a number of important vegetable pathogens and is very common during transplant production and early-spring. 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.

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:
April 5, 2016

2016 Fungicide Resistance Management Guidelines Available

The 2016 Fungicide Resistance Management Guidelines for Vegetable Crops is now available. This free publication, targeted to New Jersey and the surrounding mid-Atlantic region, helps vegetable growers understand and manage potential fungicide resistance development on their farm.

In order to understand and use fungicide resistance management strategies effectively, first learn how and why fungicide resistance may develop; a series of articles is available on this website.

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With:
April 5, 2016

Greenhouse Disease Management: Seed Treatment

 

Hot Water Seed Treatment Photo: Meg McGrath, Cornell

Hot Water Seed Treatment
Photo: Meg McGrath, Cornell

All seed used in transplant production, as well as any transplants brought into the greenhouse should be certified ‘clean’ or disease-free. Important diseases such as Bacterial leaf spot of tomato and pepper can cause major problems in transplant production if introduced in the greenhouse. Bacterial leaf spot of tomato and pepper can be seed-borne and infested seed can be a major source of inoculum in the greenhouse and cause problems in the field later in the growing season.

As a rule for any crop, any non-certified or untreated seed should be treated, if applicable, with a Clorox treatment, or hot-water seed treatment, or dusted to help minimize bacterial or damping-off diseases. Organic and conventional tomato growers who grow a significant number of heirloom tomatoes should consider using the hot water seed treatment to help reduce the chances for bacterial problems.

For more information on seed treatments and products labeled for use in the greenhouse please see Tables E-13 and E-14 or specific crop sections in the 2016 Mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations Guide.

 

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With:
April 5, 2016

Greenhouse Disease Management: Transplant Production

Proper greenhouse sanitation is important for healthy, disease-free vegetable transplant production. Efforts need to be made to keep transplant production greenhouses free of unnecessary plant debris and weeds which may harbor insect pests and disease.

  • All equipment, benches, flats, plug trays and floors should be properly cleaned and then disinfested prior to use and efforts need to be taken throughout the transplant production season to minimize potential problems.
  • Any weeds in or around the greenhouse structure should be removed prior to and after any production.
  • Any transplant brought into the greenhouse from an outside source needs to be certified ‘clean’, as well as visually inspected for potential insects and diseases once it reaches your location.

Remember, disinfestants, such as Clorox, Green-Shield, or hydrogen dioxide products (Zerotol – for commercial greenhouses, garden centers and Oxidate – commercial greenhouse and field), kill only what they come into direct contact with so thorough coverage and/or soaking is necessary. The labels do not specify time intervals for specific uses, only to state that surfaces be ‘thoroughly wetted’. Therefore, labels need to be followed precisely for different use patterns (i.e., disinfesting flats vs. floors or benches) to ensure proper dilution ratios. Hydrogen dioxide products work best when diluted with water containing little or no organic matter and in water with a neutral pH. There are a number conventional and organic products labeled for disease control during transplant production in the greenhouse. Please see Table E-14 in the 2016 Mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Production Guide.

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With:
January 15, 2016 and

2016 NJ Ag Convention & Trade Show

Date: February 9 – 10 – 11, 2016
Location: Harrah’s Resort & Waterfront Conference Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Sponsors: Vegetable Growers’ Association of NJ, New Jersey Blueberry Association, Garden State Wine Growers Association, Rutgers NJ Ag Experiment Station, & NJ Department of Ag

View 2016 Convention Information & Registration
View 2016 Educational Program

Trade show and educational sessions will open on Tuesday, February 9, at the Harrah’s Resort & Waterfront Conference Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The show will feature exhibits and displays from many of the industry’s suppliers and business associates. This year, the educational program features twenty-five sessions, including an all-day Farm Food Safety training session and Basil Workshop Session. Start 2016 off right: learn from the best, touch base with fellow growers, and earn re-certification credits, all in three jam-packed days.

2016 CVPRDaily passes for the trade show and educational sessions are available for $50 a person. NJ Vegetable Grower Association memberships are $100 for 2 people who may attend the trade show and educational sessions all day/every day. Click the Information & Registration link above for more information on hotel and meal reservations. Members receive the comprehensive 2016 Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations.

In addition, the 2016 State Agricultural Convention will open with its regular business session on Wednesday, February 10, and continue on Thursday, February 11, 2016. The meeting will focus on developing and setting a policy agenda for the industry over the coming year through the resolutions process. The listening sessions, during which members of the agricultural industry can provide on-the-ground experiences and ideas for policy, will also be an important part of the convention. This year’s listening sessions will highlight Locally Grown, as well as feature an Agricultural Agents Micro Speed Session, where county agents will provide an update on their current projects.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Vegetable Crops
December 28, 2015

Dickeya (blackleg) White Potato Meeting Jan 7, 2016

Dickeya White Potato Meeting Flyer

Click to View Flyer

Date: Thursday January 7, 2016, 2pm
Location: Salem County Extension Office
51 Cheney Road
Woodstown, NJ 08098

We will review the effect of Dickeya (blackleg pathogen) on the 2015 white potato crop for better decisions regarding your 2016 potato seed orders. Presenter Dr. Steven Johnson, Extension Plant Pathologist at UMaine, has over 20 years of experience with potato diseases.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Vegetable Crops