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…]
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 16, 2022 Andy Wyenandt
Identifying and controlling Botrytis in high tunnel and greenhouse tomato production
Botrytis, or gray mold, caused by the fungus, Botrytis cinerea, can cause significant losses in high tunnel and greenhouse tomato production if not controlled properly. The pathogen can rapidly spread during periods when structures are closed and when relative humidity remains high for long periods of time. This often occurs when outside weather remains cool and damp while heating is needed. Gray mold is favored by temperatures from 64° to 75°F and requires only high humidity (not leaf wetness) to become established. The pathogen has a large host range and once established in an enclosed structure it can be very difficult to control (UMASS). The fungus can survive/overwinter as mycelia or sclerotia in plant debris and in organic soil matter (NCSU).
July 15, 2022 Andy Wyenandt
Vegetable Disease Update: 07-15-22
- Phomopsis leaf blight has been reported in annual strawberry. For more information please see this Extension publication by Louws et al. at NCSU.
- Collar rot has been reported in tomato. Please click here for more information.
- There have been no reports of Late blight in potato or tomato in the region to date. To follow the progress of Late blight in the US please click here.
- There have been a few isolated reports of basil downy mildew in the last month from NY, RI, and MA. All basil growers are encouraged to scout on a daily basis. To track and report BDM occurrence please click here. For information on the control of BDM in the greenhouse or the field please click on the hyperlinks.
- Rhizoctonia root rot has been reported in summer squash. Click here for more information.
- White mold has been reported in tomato and Southern blight in pepper in southern new Jersey this past week. Click here for more information.
- Powdery mildew has been reported in cucurbit crops. For more information on the control of CPM please click here.
- Cucurbit downy mildew has been reported ONLY on cucumber in southern, central, and northern New Jersey. For more information on CDM control please click here. To follow the progress of CDM in the US please click here.
- Bacterial leaf spot has been reported in pepper. More more information on BLS control please click here.
- Bacterial canker has been reported in tomato. For more information on diagnosing important tomato diseases please click here.
- Phytophthora blight has been reported on pepper. For more information please click here.
- Dickeya dianthicola has been reported in potato in Virginia and Massachusetts.
- The 2022/2023 Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations Guide is available for free online or for sale in hardcopy form at many County offices.
- For a quick review on managing fungicide resistance development using tank mixes and fungicide rotations, and information on FRAC group 4, FRAC group 7, and FRAC group 3 and FRAC group 11 fungicides please click on hyperlinks.
July 14, 2022 Melissa Bravo
Crop progress, droughty conditions persist
Despite the thunderstorms that rolled through on Tuesday night, Salem County and others bordering the Delaware River have experienced 27 weeks of severly dry conditions according to the NJ DEP Drought Information website for Regional Water Supply Indicators for the 90 day stream flow reporting.
Salem County: The National Integrated Drought Information System created by NOAA and the US Drough Monitor website have most of Salem County listed as abnormally dry but not yet in a declared drought situation.
Crop scouting observations (Salem County)
May planted corn is beginning to tassle with most fields exhibiting exceptional height, uniformity and color. Drought stress during pollination this week; along with moderate silk clipping pest pressure (june bugs, japanese beetles, grasshoppers) could impact kernal development.
Weed control in corn is generally good to excellent. Velvetleaf, cocklebur, jimsonweed, ivy leaf, common morning glory, giant ragweed, cocklebur and shattercane are noticeable along field edges.
Double cropped corn after small grains, and later planted corn is exhibiting water stress with many fields under three feet tall remaining curled at 7:30 am.
National Integrated Drought Information System, NOAA. July 14, 2022
The next brood of grasshoppers has hatched in alfalfa fields and looks as abundant as in 2021. The good news is the brood hatches in May and June did not appear to be as prolific as last year’s. Hay and soybean producers should monitor the grasshopper pressure in individual fields for signs the population is going to surpass economic thresholds. Corn fields planted in high infestation areas last year may also see some significant feeding as the drought continues. Effective control methods are only useful on nymph stage grasshoppers. Contact the Salem County office to let Melissa know if you are seeing significant grasshopper damage.
Green-redroot pigweed, spiny pigweed, pa
lmer amaranth are outpacing soybean height in fields yet to be sprayed. Weed control in soybeans is noticeably better this year compared to conditions this time last year.
July 14, 2022 Andy Wyenandt
Diagnosing important diseases in Pepper – Reference Guide
| Phytophthora blight causing plants to wilt and die | Phytophthora blight – crown rot | Phytophthora crown rot. Note the blackish-brown necrotic tissue at base of the stem |
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| Phytophthora sporulating on infected bell pepper fruit. | Phytophthora fruit rot (L) and Pythium blight (R) | Symptoms of Phytophthora blight on infected leaves. Under ideal conditions leaf infections can occur. |
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| Anthracnose fruit rot | Anthracnose fruit rot. Note the salmon colored spores being produced in the lesion of the lesion. | Sunscald on pepper fruit (L) and Anthracnose fruit rot (R) |
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| Bacterial leaf spot on leaves | Bacterial leaf spot. Note the infected leaves falling off of plant. | Bacterial leaf spot infection of pepper fruit. Note the irregular raised scabby spots on fruit. |
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| Southern blight on infected stem. Note the numerous small fruiting bodies (sclerotia) developing on the stem | White mold infecting pepper stem. Infected stems come brittle and hollow | White mold sclerotia present on inside of infected stem |
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| Blossom end rot | Cucumber Mosaic Virus | Cyclamen mite feeding injury. Symptoms resemble virus infection |
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| Others: | ||
| Mefenoxam injury on a young pepper transplant | Sunscald on stems of pepper recently transplanted into black plastic mulch. | Cyclamen mite damage on immature pepper fruit |
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| “Silvering” on mature bell pepper fruit. | “Silvering” on the right and thrips feeding injury on the Left | Edema on pepper fruit |
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Andy Wyenandt, Wesley Kline, and Kris Holmstrom
July 13, 2022 Kris Holmstrom and Joe Ingerson-Mahar
Vegetable IPM Update 07/13/22
Sweet Corn
European corn borer (ECB) moth catches continue to be extremely low around the state. We are in between adult generations at this time. ECB population maps will resume if second flight catches rise to high enough numbers.
The highest nightly trap catches of ECB for the week ending 07/13/22 are as follows:
| Hillsborough 1 | Port Murray 1 |
| Milford 1 | Sergeantsville 1 |
| Milltown 1 | South Branch 1 |
| Oldwick 1 |
