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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July 23, 2023

Recognizing Angular Leaf Spot in Cucurbits

Angular leaf spot, caused by the bacterium (Pseudomonas syringae pv. lachrymans), is common in New Jersey and the region. Although it often shows up during cooler, wet weather; it can show up almost anytime during the production season with favorable weather conditions for its development.

Symptoms of angular leaf spot in cucurbit.

Symptoms of angular leaf spot in cucurbit.

Angular leaf spot of pumpkin. Note the 'shot holes' in the leaf.

Angular leaf spot of pumpkin. Note leaf ‘shot holes’.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Angular leaf spot will first appear in ‘hot spots’ as, small water-soaked lesions which will expand until they reach a larger leaf vein resulting in the angular looking symptoms on leaves. Under heavy disease pressure, the bacteria will infect fruit causing small, water-soaked circular spots. In many cases once weather conditions become dry again, infected tissue in leaves will die and fall out leaving the characteristic ‘shot hole’ symptoms. Control of angular leaf spot begins scouting your fields, particularly in areas that may get shaded and remain wet after heavy rainfalls. Application of labeled rates of fixed copper plus mancozeb to help suppress the spread of the disease until hot, dry weather returns.

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With: ,
July 22, 2023

Vegetable Disease Update: 07-22-23

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July 21, 2023

Controlling fungal leaf blights of Carrot

Powdery mildew, Alternaria and Cercospora are three important fungal foliar pathogens that can cause early defoliation in carrots, thus reducing yields and making harvest difficult. Each pathogen produces distinct symptoms. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , ,
July 20, 2023 and

New Peach Varieties – ‘Felicia’, ‘Evelynn’ and ‘Anna Rose’

Felicia peach The Rutgers/NJAES stone fruit breeding program, led by Joe Goffreda, continues to create, and release exciting new peach varieties. We, in collaboration with growers, also continue to develop the varieties by evaluating their performance in plantings in commercial orchards and at Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center. During this key time of the season, historically Redhaven season, it is important for our area to capture a substantial market share with premium fresh peaches. We are glad to feature some new and improved peach options for this season.

Felicia is a recent release from Rutgers University. It is a very attractive freestone yellow-fleshed peach variety. It has attractive red to dark red skin, little pubescence, with traces of red in the flesh. It ripens a few days before Redhaven; however, unlike Redhaven, it retains firmness for longer while maintaining the balance of sweetness and acidity (Table 1). Fruit is large and firm-fleshed, which is essential for post-harvest handling. It has low susceptibility to bacterial spot.

Though Redhaven is still the standard, yellow-fleshed, traditional peach in this season, it has a few challenges. For example, fruit can ripen faster than it changes skin color. That means it requires experience to start picking. Felicia is a good choice if one is planning a replacement for Redhaven. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Blueberry, Cranberry, Fruit, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With: , , ,
July 20, 2023

Controlling Root Knot Nematode in New Jersey

The Root Knot Nematode does show up from time to time in vegetable production in New Jersey. Fortunately, for New Jersey, the distribution and damage done by the Root Knot Nematode is no where near the levels seen in regions further south of the state. There are two species involved, the Northern Root Rot Nematode (Meloidogyne hapla) and the Southern Root Rot Nematode (Meloidogyne incognito) and both species have been found in the state. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With:
July 19, 2023

Vegetable IPM Update 7/19/23

Sweet Corn

Fall armyworm (FAW) has begun to appear in coastal areas.  We have low level infestations of this pest in whorl stage sweet corn in Monmouth County, and reports of early populations in Cape May, where FAW was a significant problem last season.  This pest is capable of significant injury to sweet corn plants, resulting in severe stunting and failure to produce viable ears.  Importantly, FAW favors whorl, and even seedling stage sweet corn for egg laying so it is critical that growers check even recently emerged plantings for signs of FAW injury.

Infected plantInfected plantNewly hatched FAW larvae cause holes and scratches on leaves that are similar to European corn borer (ECB) feeding, except that they tend to be more concentrated and always lead down into the whorl  (see photos at left).  As the larvae grow, the feeding becomes more destructive, with large ragged holes and obvious droppings deposited in the whorl (see photo at right).  Infected plant

We will provide updates on new FAW appearances and severity as reports come in.  FAW are resistant to synthetic pyrethroids.  Effective sprays should include IRAC grp. 5 (spinosyns) or IRAC grp. 28 (diamides).  The carbamate (IRAC grp. 1A) Lannate is also still effective.  Sufficient water should be used in the applications to allow the solution to penetrate the layer of droppings that may have formed above the caterpillar.

 

European corn borer (ECB) moth activity remains extremely low in areas where blacklight traps are operating in the northern and central counties.  Many plantings exhibiting no ECB injury at all.  We will report on ECB activity should numbers rebound to potentially damaging levels during the second flight.  In recent years, this later flight has not required targeted control in sweet corn.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Organic Production, Vegetable Crops