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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Note: This is the final weekly edition of the Vegetable IPM Update for 2018. Further updates may be published in response to specific pest threats.
Sweet Corn
European corn borer (ECB) moth catches remain low. There will be no map in this edition. [Read more…]
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.
There will be no maps for this edition of the IPM Update.
Sweet Corn
State-wide, European corn borer and fall armyworm have declined in the traps. There has been little field activity for either moth.
Corn earworm
Corn earworm populations have declined, but based upon blacklight information, most areas of the state will need to continue on a 3-day silk spray schedule for late season sweet corn. In the pheromone traps of southern NJ, the number of adult males caught has declined indicating a 4-day spray schedule in most locations.
Other vegetable crop pests:
Beet armyworm
Beet armyworm has been generally low in number throughout the summer season. While there was an increase in trap catches for the Hammonton area this past week, it is not likely to be an economic problem.
Pepper weevil
No other field populations have been detected outside of the Hammonton area. This will be the last note for this season regarding pepper weevil.
Hawaiian beet webworm
Hawaiian beet webworm on spinach
We have been picking up small numbers of HBWW in the blacklight traps, especially in southern NJ, in the past couple of weeks. A field was found this week in Cape May County where the HBWW was abundant feeding on pigweed and sugar beets. The primary host of HBWW is pigweed, but amaranth, spinach, beets, sugar beets, and chard are also fed upon. The greenish caterpillars feed on the leaves and produce loose webbing which pulls leaves together. As the larvae mature they become more reddish with longitudinal stripes. Because localized populations can build up large numbers, farmers should check plantings of susceptible crops for this moth. If spraying is necessary, refer to the Mid-Atlantic Commercial Production Recommendations for control options.
Soybean Looper in eggplant
An unusual infestation of soybean looper was found in eggplant this past week in the East Vineland area. The caterpillars resemble cabbage looper but have more distinct white stripes and dark margins on the sides of the head. Soybean looper can feed on a wide range of plants besides soybean, including tomato and pepper. This situation stood out for two reasons: 1) that soybean looper was found in the eggplant, and 2) that any caterpillar infestation was found in eggplant requiring control.
soybean loopers on eggplant
Webinar presenter, Dr. Bradley Fritz, is an agricultural engineer from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and serves as the Research Leader of the Aerial Application Technology Research Unit at USDA’s Agricultural Research Service. The presentation will cover different methods of aerial application, best practices for reducing spray particle drift when using aerial application equipment, nozzle selection, and the use of adjuvants as they relate to aerial application.
Learn more about reducing pesticide drift.
