As the summer heats up in New Jersey, the control of Phytophthora blight in cucurbit plantings can be extremely difficult (even with the use of fungicides) as hot, wet weather finally sets in. Mitigating losses to Phytophthora blight in cucurbit crops begins with long crop rotations, where recommendations suggest crop rotations longer than 5 years if possible. Other cultural practices include avoid planting in low areas of the field where water may persist after rain or overhead irrigation, rogueing out infected plants as soon as possible, cutting the plastic to help dry out the soil, proper weed control, and proper preventative fungicide programs.
Vegetable Disease Update: 07-08-23
- Cucurbit downy mildew has been reported on cucumber and cantaloupe in southern New Jersey. For more information on CDM control please click here.
- Blackleg has been reported on potato in New Jersey.
- 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.
- Bacterial leaf spot has been reported in pepper. More more information on BLS control please click here. Rutgers is surveying tomato and pepper fields throughout the state this summer to help determine the makeup of the bacterial population and for copper resistance development.
- Powdery mildew has been reported in cucurbit crops. For more information on the control of CPM please click here.
- Southern blight has been reported on pepper.
- 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 on controlling Phytophthora blight please click here.
- For information on diagnosing important pepper diseases please click here.
- 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.
Phytophthora and Pythium control during wet weather
Most of New Jersey has finally gotten some significant rain after many weeks of dry weather making current conditions ideal for pathogens such as Phytophthora and Pythium. Unfortunately, Pythium cottony leak and Phytophthora blight can be found on most farms in the southern part of the state. Poor crop rotations with susceptible hosts only make matters worse. The Phytophthora pathogen has an increasing host range that now includes snap and lima beans; and all crops, other than a few resistant bell pepper cultivars, lack any resistance to the pathogen. Under ideal conditions (hot, humid, and wet) Pythium cottony leak can develop on infected fruit.
Vegetable Disease Update: 06-30-23
- Cucurbit downy mildew has been reported on cucumber in New Jersey. For more information on CDM control please click here.
- 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.
- Bacterial leaf spot has been reported in pepper. More more information on BLS control please click here. Rutgers is surveying tomato and pepper fields throughout the state this summer to help determine the makeup of the bacterial population and for copper resistance development.
- Powdery mildew has been reported in cucurbit crops. For more information on the control of CPM please click here.
- Southern blight has been reported on pepper.
- 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 on controlling Phytophthora blight please click here.
- For information on diagnosing important pepper diseases please click here.
- 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.
Vegetable Disease Update: 08-08-22
- 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.
- The foliar and fruit rot phase of Buckeye rot in tomato has been reported.
- 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.
- Viruses in pepper and tomato have been reported at an unusually high rate this summer.
- Bacterial leaf spot is being reported in pepper and tomato. More more information on BLS control please click here. Rutgers is still surveying tomato and pepper fields throughout the state to help determine the makeup of the bacterial population and for copper resistance development!
- Basil downy mildew has been confirmed in New Jersey. 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Vegetable Disease Update: 07-29-22
- Basil downy mildew has been confirmed in New Jersey. 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.