No Late blight has been reported in New Jersey this week.
Cucurbit downy mildew remains active.
White speck (or Plectosporium blight) has been reported in pumpkin.
Cucurbit downy mildew remains active in New Jersey. Downy mildew was found on pumpkin in Morris County (north Jersey) this week. Continue to scout all cucurbit crops on a regular basis. Please see the 2013 Commercial Vegetable Recommendations Guide for specific fungicide recommendations. To track the progress of cucurbit downy mildew please visit North Carolina State University’s Cucurbit Downy Mildew Forecasting Center at http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/pp/ cucurbit/.
Cucurbit – Powdery mildew – Cucurbit growers should adjust fungicide programs accordingly. Remember, cucurbit powdery mildew is favored by hot, dry weather.
Cucurbit – White speck – or Plectosporium blight has been reported in pumpkin in northern New Jersey. White speck is a fungus sthat can overwinter in our region and always starts out as a small hot spot in a field. White speck will cause non-rotting fruit blemishes and cause vines to collapse if infection is heavy enough. Applications of fungicides such as chlorothalonil or Quadris (azoxystrobin,11) or other FRAC code 11 fungicides will help control White speck.
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- Has been reported! 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 rates of chlorothalonil or Manzate weekly and/or rotate weekly with Quadris (azoxystrobin, 11) or Cabrio (pyracolostrobin, 11). Please see the 2013 New Jersey Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations Guide for more information.
