After nearly a decade’s worth of research and breeding efforts Rutgers Downy Mildew Resistant (DMR) sweet basils are now available to commercial growers with seed for homeowners and gardeners becoming available in 2019. Since 2007, when basil downy mildew (BDM) was first identified in FL, the disease has caused significant economic losses to commercial basil growers throughout the United States, and has made growing sweet basil in the backyard garden nearly impossible. Since 2009, Rutgers has been working diligently to identify and breed downy mildew resistance into commercially-acceptable sweet basils that have the correct aromas, essential oils, and flavors. The first of these three new DMR sweet basils are now available through VanDrunen Farm Specialty Seed (VDFSS) located in Thermal, CA and Momence, IL. Each of the new Rutgers DMR sweet basils have their own unique characteristics which can be matched to meet grower needs.

Rutgers Obsession DMR: An excellent sweet basil for field or potted plant production; will also make an excellent edible landscape plant; more compact, slower growth than Devotion DMR and Thunderstruck DMR, high leaf-to-stem ratio – good for small bunches or small size clam shells, dark green, thick, glossy leaves, flowers form late; and highly resistant to Fusarium wilt.

Rutgers Devotion DMR: An excellent Genovese-type sweet basil for field production for fresh markets; establishes quicker than Obsession DMR with uniform, upright growth, dark, green color with flat to cup-shaped leaves.

Rutgers Thunderstruck DMR: An excellent sweet basil with high yields needed for processing- and fresh-market production; quick establishment and fast, upright growth with medium-sized, ruffled leaves with a bright green color.

For more information on Rutgers DMR sweet basils please contact VanDrunen Specialty Seeds in the link above. For more information on basil downy mildew, our research, and our new DMR sweet basils follow us on Instagram at #RutgersBasil.

For the past 6 years, Rutgers has led efforts in the breeding of sweet basil for resistance to downy mildew. Currently, basil downy mildew threatens 100% of the basil acreage in the US and other parts of the world.

Rutgers University, along with researchers at Michigan State, University of Florida, Oregon State University, Cornell University, California State University, and North Carolina State University as well as the USDA Agricultural Research Service have been awarded a $2.3-million USDA grant to help fight downy mildew in a number of highly valuable crops. The announcement from MSU who leads this effort can be found on MSU Today. 

• Basil downy mildew has been reported near Vineland!
• Bacterial leaf spot has been reported on tomato.
• Phytophthora blight has been reported on summer squash.
• No late blight has been reported in the region to date. The Late blight found in greenhouse tomatoes in WV two weeks has been reported to be US23. To track late blight in the US please visit http://usablight.org/
• Want more information on what’s going on, please sign up for the Jersey Vegetable Crop Ag Updates at: http://jerseyvegcropsagupdates.blogspot.com/.

Vegetable Disease of the Week

Symptoms of downy mildew on
infected sweet basil leaf

Basil downy mildew sporulating on the
underside of an infected leaf.

Rob Pyne¹, Kathryn Homa ^1,2, Bill Barney^1,2, Andy Wyenandt¹, and Jim Simon^1
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…]

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.

by Kathryn Homa^1,2, 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…]