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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NJ Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations
Rutgers Weather Forecasting - Meteorological Information important to commercial agriculture.
Cold temperatures and rain this week have prevented catches of European corn borer (ECB) from rising, and much of the activity represented in the map occurred over the weekend. Areas of highest activity include parts of Hunterdon, Morris and Burlington counties (see ECB map). Low level ECB infestations are present in early sweet corn plantings, and will become more significant with the return of drier weather.
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Basil downy mildew (Peronospora belbahrii) has been found in a field near Vineland, New Jersey. This is the first report of downy mildew in field-grown basil in New Jersey this year. All basil growers need to scout on a daily basis and initiate a preventative fungicide program.
White mold, or timber rot, caused by the soil-borne fungal pathogen, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, was found this past week in a high tunnel.
High tunnel tomato plant with main stem infected by white mold.
White mold is common and once introduced into a field or high tunnel it can very difficult to control. The pathogen produces black sclerotia on the surface and inside infected stems. Sclerotia, if they make their way back into the soil, can survive for years causing significant problems.
Infected stems will turn a light brown color and dry up becoming brittle. If the main stem is infected the entire plant will collapse looking like a wilt or root rot issue.
Under hot, humid conditions white fungal growth will develop on the surface of the stems and in some cases sclerotia will develop on the outside of the stem. Breaking open the stem will reveal numerous black sclerotia.
All infected plants and or plant material need to be removed from the greenhouse or high tunnel immediately and disposed of properly. Preventative protectant fungicide programs beginning at flowering will help control white mold. Cool, wet weather and poor air circulation favors disease development.
Tomato stem infected by white hold. Note the fungal growth on the surface of the stem.
White mold of tomato. Note the black sclerotia developing inside the brittle stems.
Wet weather is expected to come in during the first part of the week and linger around for most of it. Now that strawberries are in full production growers need to pay close attention to fruit rots such as anthracnose and botrytis. Overipe or unharvested mature berries left in commercial or u-pick fields can act as sources of inoculum for both pathogens. Importantly, both pathogens can develop and spread rapidly under wet, rainy conditions and the appropriate protectant fungicides need to be applied ahead of any inclement weather.
Botrytis, or grey mold, on mature strawberry fruit. Botrytis can develop and spread rapidly under cool, wet conditions.
European corn borer map
May 27, 2015
Bacterial leaf spot – Symptoms of bacterial leaf spot on pepper leaves include small, brown water-soaked lesions that turn brown and necrotic in the centers. Spots may coalesce and form large blighted areas on leaves and premature defoliation can occur. On fruit, brown lesions can form which have a roughened, cracked wart-like appearance. High temperatures, high relative humidity and rainfall favor Bacterial spot development. Loss from Bacterial spot can be reduced somewhat by maintaining high levels of fertility, which will stimulate new growth. Applying a fixed copper (M1) at labeled rates or may help suppress spread. Quintec (quinoxyfen, 13) at 6.0 fl. oz/A is now labeled for the suppression of bacterial leaf spot in pepper in the mid-Atlantic region. Please see the 2015 New Jersey Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations Guide for more information. [Read more…]
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