Basil downy mildew
Basil Downy Mildew remains active in New Jersey. All basil growers should scout on a daily basis and taking appropriate preventative measures.
Cucurbit downy mildew
Cucurbit Downy Mildew has been reported as far north as northern Maryland and in central Michigan to-date. With the latest weather this past week, all cucurbit growers should scout on a regular basis and adjust fungicide programs accordingly and begin to apply downy mildew specific fungicides if not already done so. Organic growers should apply copper or other OMRI-approved products to help prevent and suppress downy mildew development. If you suspect CDM on your farm please contact your count agent so we can confirm and report it. To track downy mildew in the US please visit NCSU’s Downy Mildew Forecasting Website.
Cucurbit growers should scout on a regular basis and adjust fungicide programs to incorporate powdery mildew specific fungicides into their weekly fungicide programs.
Peppers and Tomatoes
Bacterial leaf spot has been reported on both crops. Heavy wind and rains have been experienced throughout the state. Remember that all bacteria need a natural opening (i.e., stomata) or a wound (i.e., from typing or pruning) to enter a plant to start an infection.
Peppers
Anthracnose fruit rot – Heavy rain and wind can cause pepper anthracnose to flare up. Growers with peppers in fields with a history of pepper anthracnose should scout on a daily basis and apply fungicides preventatively. Pepper anthracnose can be very difficult to control once established. Strip picking and removing all fruit from ‘hot spots’ when they first appear may help suppress spread of the pathogen. Preventative fungicide applications should begin shortly before or at flowering. Use a heavy volume of water and make sure coverage is extremely good. Apply high rate of chlorothalonil or Manzate weekly and/or rotate weekly with Quadris (azoxystrobin, 11), Cabrio (pyracolostrobin, 11), or Priaxor (7 + 11). Please see the 2014 New Jersey Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations Guide for more information.
Tomato
Early blight, Septoria leaf spot and anthracnose fruit rot – Weekly maintenance fungicide programs which target early blight will also help control septoria leaf spot and anthracnose fruit rot. Control of anthracnose fruit rot begins while green fruit are maturing. Remember, anthracnose infections take place on green fruit and symptoms show up later in the season on red, mature fruit. To successfully control anthracnose, protectant fungicides need to be applied on a regular basis as fruit are forming. Organic growers should apply OMRI-approved copper-based or other labeled products on a weekly basis to help suppress the development of early blight, septoria leaf spot and anthracnose fruit rot. Please see the 2014 New Jersey Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations Guide for more information.
Southern blight (Sclerotium rolfsii) – has been reported in southern New Jersey. Southern blight is much more common in vegetable areas south of the state where summer temperatures remain hotter (above 90°F) for longer periods of time. Like white mold, caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, it can survive in the soil for many years. Symptoms of Southern blight include infection at the base of the stem at the soil-line. The resulting infection will girdle the plant causing wilt and death. The fungus will produce white, cottony mycelium and very small, spherical sclerotia which are often have a tannish, brown color (See VDOW). White mold will also produce white, cottony mycelium at the base of the stem and produced large, black sclerotia (See VDOW). Control of southern blight, like white mold, is extremely difficult. Crop rotations of 2 or more years and the dead plowing of field to bury the sclerotia deep in the soil are recommended.
