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.
Search Results for: basil downy mildew
June 13, 2014 Andy Wyenandt
Basil Downy Mildew Confirmed in New Jersey 6-13-14
Basil downy mildew has been reported for the first time this season near Millville, NJ in potted Thai and Cinnamon basil plants being sold at big box stores, as well as in sweet basil located in grower field. All basil growers in New Jersey should scout their fields on a daily basis. [Read more…]
May 5, 2014 Andy Wyenandt
Basil Downy Mildew Reported – NJ 5/5/14
Basil downy mildew was reported in a greenhouse in Virginia last week. The first question I asked myself was, “How can that be?”
Basil downy mildew on overwintered sweet basil plant.
Note symptoms on leaf top side and downy mildew spores on leaf underside.
The infected plants in question, roughly 12 mature potted sweet basil plants, were just a few plants that were left over from last fall and carried over the winter in a non-heated high tunnel on benches with heated mats and row cover. The heated mats and row cover were for protecting other crops. Interestingly, the basil did not freeze out, somehow managed to survive the winter without much heat, and produce downy mildew spores once the outside temperatures rose.
[Read more…]
June 13, 2013 Andy Wyenandt
Breeding for Basil Downy Mildew Resistance
Rob Pyne1, Kathryn Homa 1,2, Bill Barney1,2, Andy Wyenandt1, and Jim Simon1
1 Department of Plant Biology and Pathology, Rutgers University 2 IR-4 Program
In 2010 a basil variety and breeding line trial was conducted as an initial screen for potential sources of genetic resistance to downy mildew caused by Peronospora belbahrii, a destructive pathogen of basil introduced in the US in 2009. This trial was expanded from 30 to over 40 varieties representing six different Ocimum species in 2011. Varying levels of disease susceptibility were observed with the highest tolerance associated with O. americanum, O. citriodorum, O. gratissimum, and O. tenuiflorum varieties and USDA-GRIN accessions. In contrast, the most severe symptoms and extensive sporulation were consistently observed in O. basilicum accessions, including the popular commercial sweet basil varieties. [Read more…]
June 12, 2013 Andy Wyenandt
Basil downy mildew reported in southern New Jersey
Basil downy mildew has been reported in South Jersey near Vineland. This is the first report of basil downy mildew this season in New Jersey and the mid-Atlantic region. All basil growers are urged to scout their fields and consider applying preventative fungicides. The wet weather over the past week and the rains expected to come through the area later today and this later week are ideal for the development and spread of basil downy mildew.
May 13, 2013 Andy Wyenandt
Controlling Basil Downy Mildew
by Kathryn Homa1,2, Robert Pyne1, Bill Barney2, Andy Wyenandt1, and Jim Simon1
Department of Plant Biology and Pathology, 1Rutgers University; 2IR-4 Program
Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) is an economically important fresh culinary herb grown in the United States. In fall of October 2007, a new disease of basil, downy mildew (Peronospora belbahrii) was first reported in FL. [Read more…]
