Rutgers Cooperative Extension
Seasonal updates and alerts on insects, diseases, and weeds impacting vegetable crops. New Jersey Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations updates between annual publication issues are included.
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Pepper production is in full swing in New Jersey and the mid-Atlantic region. Below are links to useful resources for the identification and management of important pepper diseases.
Early-season Phytophthora and Pythium control
Preparing for pepper anthracnose
Phytophthora-tolerant and -resistant bell pepper variety trial reports
Survey continuing for bacterial leaf spot and copper resistance in 2021 growing season
Sweet Corn
Low numbers of European corn borer (ECB) moths continue to be captured, with little change from the previous week. We anticipate that this initial flight is nearing its’ end. The highest adult activity is currently Gloucester County (see map below at right). Whorl corn is the primary target for egg laying, and injury as high as 40% of plants infested has been found in Hunterdon County this week. This high feeding percentage is an outlier relative to what scouts are typically finding this season. Most infestations are in the single-to- mid teens in terms of plants infested. It is typical for feeding percentages to rise as the moth catch declines. We expect feeding to increase for the next 1-2 weeks before peaking.
Look for the characteristic “shot-hole” type of feeding (photo below at right) and consider treating when infested plants exceed 12% in a 50 plant sample. As plantings proceed to the pre-tassel stage, ECB larvae may be found in emerging tassels (see photo at left). It is a good idea to treat individual plantings as they move into the full tassel/first silk stage one time. This eliminates any ECB larvae that have emerged with the tassels as they begin to move down the stalk to re-enter near developing ears.
Useful insecticides for this particular application include synthetic 
pyrethroids (IRAC Grp 3), spinosyns (including OMRI approved Entrust) IRAC Grp 5), and diamides such as Coragen or Vantacor (IRAC Grp 28) or materials such as Besiege which include the active ingredient in Coragen. Synthetic pyrethroids alone should NOT be used for corn earworm (CEW) protection on silking corn. Control with these materials is very inconsistent.
The highest nightly trap catches of ECB for the week ending 6/16/21 are as follows:
| Downer 3 | Dayton 1 | Lawrenceville 1 |
| Asbury 1 | Denville 1 | Medford 1 |
| Centerton 1 | Hillsborough 1 | Sergeantsville 1 |
| Chester 1 | Jones Island 1 | Tabernacle 1 |
The cucurbit growing season is well under way in New Jersey and the rest of the mid-Atlantic region. Below are links to useful resources for the identification and management of important cucurbit diseases.
Cucurbit Powdery and Downy Mildew: A Tale of Two Pathogens
The downy mildew forecasting website
Preparing for cucurbit downy mildew
Preparing for cucurbit powdery mildew
Preparing for Anthracnose and Alternaria Leaf Blights in Cucurbit Crops
Recognizing and controlling Angular leaf spot in cucurbits
Recognizing and controlling Plectosporium blight in cucurbits
Controlling Phytophthora and Rhizoctonia root rots
Destroying cucurbit plantings after harvest
Cucurbit downy mildew has been confirmed on cucumber in southern New Jersey. This is the first report of CDM in the state and region this growing season. All cucumber and cantaloupe growers should scout on a daily basis and initiate a preventative fungicide program. Remember, some CDM isolates fall into Clade I which predominately infect watermelon, pumpkin, and squash, where other CDM isolates in Clade II predominately infect cucumber and cantaloupe.
For more information on CDM, the clades, and CDM control please click here.
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