Warmer days and cool nights, along with cool soils and the regular wet weather has made conditions ideal for disease development in some spring crops. Growers should consider applying preventative fungicide applications for early-season diseases, particularly root rots, either in the transplant water or shortly after transplanting or seeding to help mitigate potential issues. All fields should be scouted on a regular basis. White rust and anthracnose were reported on spinach this week, so leaf spot pathogens are already active.
Cabbage
Damping-off – To help control losses due to damping-off pathogens, apply Ridomil Gold (mefenoxam, FRAC code 4) at 1 to 2 pt/A 4SL, MetaStar (metalaxyl, 4) see label, or azoxystrobin (FRAC code 11) at 0.40 to 0.80 fl oz 2.08SC/1000 row ft (for Rhizoctonia only), or Ridomil Gold at 1.0 to 2.0 pt/A 4SL plus Quadris at 0.40 to 0.80 fl oz 2.08SC/1000 row ft. in a band up to 7 in. after seeding. To help control damping-off pathogens in Collards and Kale only: Apply Uniform (mefenoxam + azoxystrobin, 4 + 11) at 0.34 fl oz 3.66SE/1000 ft row.
Cole crops
Downy Mildew and Alternaria – Symptoms of downy mildew include purple to yellowish-brown spots on upper leaf surfaces. A grayish-white spore mass will develop and cover the underside of leaves under ideal temperatures (night temperatures of 46 to 61oF and day temperatures below 75oF. Downy mildew can kill young plants. Heavily infected leaves may drop providing entry points for bacterial infections (black rot and soft rot). Symptoms of Alternaria on infected leaves include small, expanding circular lesions with concentric rings that may have a ‘shot-hole’ appearance as lesions age. Heavily infected seedlings may result in damping-off. Control of Downy mildew and Alternaria begin with preventative fungicide applications.
Lettuce
Bottom Rot/Drop – Spring season is beginning and growers should take precautions to help control Bottom rot (Rhizoctonia) and Lettuce drop (Sclerotinia) which may cause potential problems. For Bottom rot, apply Endura 70W (boscalid, FRAC code 7) at 8.0 to 11.0 oz 70W/A (only 2 applications per season), or iprodione (FRAC code 2) at 1.5 to 2.0 lb 50WP/A or OLF should be applied one week after transplanting or thinning and 10 and 20 days later (only 3 applications per season). For Lettuce drop, apply Endura (FRAC code 7) at 8.0 to 11.0 oz 70WG/A, or iprodione (FRAC code 2) at 1.5 to 2.0 lb/A, or azoxystrobin (FRAC Code 11) at 0.40 – 0.80 fl. oz/1000 row ft 2.08SC, or Cannonball (fludioxonil, 12) at 7.0 oz 50WP/A beginning one week after transplanting or thinning and again at 10 and 20 days later. Uniform (mefenoxam + azoxystrobin, 4 +11) applied at transplanting or seeding will help control damping-off pathogens as well as provide early-season downy mildew control.
Tomato and Pepper
Bacterial leaf spot – Transplants with suspected symptoms can be treated with streptomycin (Agri-Mycin 17, Agri-Strep, 25) at 1 lb/100 gallons, or 1.25 teaspoon per gallon every 4 to 5 days prior to transplanting. Please see Table E-11 in the Pest Management Section for organic and conventional options for the control of bacterial leaf spot in tomato and pepper transplant production.
For more information on controlling these important diseases please see the 2020/2021 Mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations Guide.
