- Cucurbit downy mildew has been found as far north as central Florida on cucumber, watermelon, summer and winter squash.
- Pythium has been reported in a number of newly transplanted crops.
- With the cooler nights the past few days, cold injury may begin to appear in newly transplanted crops. In pepper, symptoms of cold injury will appear in new growth and look similarly to a mosaic virus infection.
- Best management practices for Dickeya dianthicola in potato have been updated and can be found on the University of Maine’s Extension website located here.
- An article on by Dr. Amy Charkowski (Colorado State University) on managing Dickeya dianthicola in potato on the University of Wisconsin’s Vegetable Crop Update (May 3, 2017) can be found here.
- There will be a Dickaya and Pectobacterium Summit in Bangor, Maine this November. Information can be found here.
Vegetable Crops Edition
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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May 12, 2017 Andy Wyenandt
Vegetable Disease Update – 5/12/17
May 10, 2017 Kris Holmstrom and Joe Ingerson-Mahar
Veg IPM Update: Week Ending 5/10/17
Sweet Corn
Cold temperatures are slowing corn growth considerably. The same weather is also delaying the onset of pests like the European corn borer (ECB). No ECB were captured in blacklight traps this week. As the population develops, look for maps to be published in the weekly IPM Update.
Cole Crops
Although cold weather and heavy rains have suppressed them, IPM personnel continue to observe infestations of crucifer flea beetle. These beetles can build to high populations quickly, especially where wild mustard and related cruciferous weeds are common. Extreme feeding on small transplants can cause irreversible damage if not controlled promptly. [Read more…]
May 3, 2017 Kris Holmstrom and Joe Ingerson-Mahar
Veg IPM Update: Week Ending 5/03/17
Sweet Corn
The Vegetable IPM blacklight trap network is nearly complete. With limited numbers of traps having been checked, only one European corn borer (Allentown, Mercer County) and one corn earworm (Old Bridge, Middlesex County) have been recorded. As sweet corn is currently in the seedling stage, neither of these catches represent a threat. As catches become more consistent, maps of the adult populations of these two pests will be published in the weekly IPM Update.
Cole Crops
With warm, sunny days, IPM personnel have discovered a number of heavy infestations of crucifer flea beetle. These beetles can build to high populations quickly, especially where wild mustard and related cruciferous weeds are common. Extreme feeding on small transplants can cause irreversible damage if not controlled promptly. [Read more…]
April 27, 2017 Andy Wyenandt
Controlling Purple Spot in Asparagus
Like clockwork, purple spot has appeared in some asparagus plantings during mid- to late-April for the past 3 years. Purple spot, caused the soil-borne fungus, Stemphylium vesicarium, can cause problems during cool, wet spring weather (much like we have had over the past week or so). Symptoms, just like its name, include numerous, sunken oval-shaped spots on spears during the harvest season and more importantly on ferns and stalks during the summer months as long as conditions are ideal for its development. Often, purple spot will disappear as quickly as in appears on spears during the spring production season depending on the local weather conditions. As soon as the weather becomes dry and warm (as it appears for the weekend), expect purple spot to disappear. [Read more…]
April 27, 2017 Andy Wyenandt
Controlling Strawberry Fruit Rots – 2017
Anthracnose Fruit Rot of Strawberry
Fruit rots in strawberry can cause significant losses if not recognized early and controlled. The use of good cultural practices such as keeping fields weed-free and promoting good drainage, long crop rotations, and preventative fungicide applications are critical.
Pathogens such as anthracnose, gray mold (Botrytis), and leather rot (Phytophthora) can become systemic problems in strawberry plantings once established. All three fungal diseases are soil-borne and once in fields can be difficult to manage over the lifetime of the planting.
The use of mulch (matted rows) to prevent/reduce soil splashing and keeping fruit from coming into direct contact with the soil surface can be beneficial in organic production systems where conventional fungicides cannot be used. Use of long crop rotations and staying away from areas of the farm with known instances of any of these pathogens is also important. Remember that same species of Colletotrichum that causes fruit rot in pepper and other crops can also infect strawberry.
April 27, 2017 Andy Wyenandt
UMaine to Hold International Potato Disease Summit Nov. 9, 2017
Orono, Maine — Two bacteria threatening the potato industry worldwide will be the focus of a Potato Disease Summit Nov. 9 in Bangor, Maine, convened by the University of Maine.
Plant pathologists, researchers and scientists from The Netherlands, Scotland and five U.S. states will present the latest information on the bacteria — Dickeya and Pectobacterium — that cause blackleg disease, an emerging potato seed problem.
In the past three growing seasons, Dickeya, a bacterial pathogen of potatoes, has caused significant economic losses in seed nonemergence and crop loss nationwide. In addition, an associated pathogen, Pectobacterium, has caused potato crop losses in the field and in storage. The bacteria have caused losses to the potato industry in Europe for an even longer period.
“The University of Maine is responding to this situation by holding an international summit focused on the latest research and what steps are needed to help the potato industry,” says University of Maine President Susan J. Hunter. “As Maine’s only public research university, we are a longstanding partner with the state’s potato industry in addressing its needs, including the growing threat posed by Dickeya and Pectobacterium.”
The Potato Disease Summit, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Nov. 9 at the Cross Insurance Center, 515 Main St., Bangor, Maine, is designed for scientists, consultants, regulatory officials, and potato seed growers and buyers. It will focus on such topics as current advances in detection and diagnosis of Dickeya; an overview of Pectobacterium in the U.S.; and management of Enterobacteriaceae spread and risk.
The $80 per person fee includes materials, lunch and breaks. Registration deadline is Oct. 2 and is available online: extension.umaine.edu/agriculture/programs/dickeya-and-pectobacterium-summit.
For more information or to request a disability accommodation, contact Steve Johnson, 207.554.4373, stevenj@maine.edu.
