By Clint Thompson What was mainly a fall disease problem for sweet corn producers has transitioned into a concern for growers during winter and spring production as well. Southern corn leaf blight is an issue that now concerns Florida growers year-round, mostly due to warmer temperatures, said Richard Raid, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) professor …
Bacterial Spot: Tomato Disease a Problem in Various Fields in South Florida
A pair of tomato diseases are causing issues for South Florida producers. According to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline, bacterial spot disease has slowed in the Manatee Ruskin area but has flared up in other various locations. It continues to move up in tomatoes around Southwest Florida and is severe for some pepper varieties. Bacterial spot is reportedly …
Neopestalotiopsis Management: Send in Samples to Ensure Disease is Present
By Clint Thompson Neopestalotiopsis Fruit Rot in Florida strawberries is inevitable this year, based on previous years of production. But because symptoms manifest themselves similarly to other diseases, growers need to make sure the disease is actually present in their fields before taking action. Vance Whitaker, strawberry breeder at the University of Florida Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, encourages …
Additional Fungicides Available for Strawberry Disease
Additional fungicides are available for management of Neopestalotiopsis Fruit Rot disease in strawberries. According to University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Strawberry Blog, Rhyme and Tilt, which are DMI fungicides, provide some suppression of the disease. It is not as much as Thiram and Switch but it’s better than nothing. “If the disease is confirmed, I would consider adding one or …
Early Start: Neopestalotiopsis Fruit Rot Discovered in Georgia Field
By Clint Thompson It didn’t take long for Neopestalotiopsis Fruit Rot Neopestalotiopsis Fruit Rot to rear its ugly head in Georgia strawberries. According to the UGA Extension strawberry blog, a Georgia strawberry field is confirmed to have the disease. Symptoms and presumptive spores of the pathogen have been observed. The infected plants were obtained from a nursery in Canada. Plants …
Downy Mildew Disease Control Options
Clemson Plant Pathologist Tony Keinath reports in the The South Carolina Grower that conditions are favorable for downy mildew disease to start on collards and kale. Control methods must be effective to increase crop yields. Keinath recommends the following practices to maximize control: Rotate crops to new fields every year, since downy mildew disease in brassicas can survive in the …
UF Citrus Breeder: Greening Inevitable for North Florida, South Georgia
By Clint Thompson It’s not a question of if citrus greening disease will be an issue for North Florida and South Georgia citrus producers but when will it be. Fred Gmitter, a University of Florida citrus breeder, believes the disease’s impact in both areas is inevitable. He shared his assessment during Thursday’s Cold Tolerant Citrus Production Workshop in Perry, Florida. …
Disease Development: Phytophthora Root Rot a Concern in Georgia Citrus
By Clint Thompson A saturated summer across the Southeast means more potential for development of phytophthora root rot disease in citrus trees. The impact on Georgia’s young trees could be devastating, says Jonathan Oliver, (UGA) assistant professor and small fruits pathologist. Oliver implores Georgia’s citrus producers to stay vigilant in their fungicide sprays, as the wet conditions have not let …
A Lot to Learn: Two New Viruses a Concern for Florida Watermelon Industry
By Clint Thompson Two new watermelon viruses discovered recently in Texas are now a concern of Florida producers. As if South Florida growers did not have enough diseases to concern themselves with, these two new viruses are now on growers’ and industry leaders’ radar. Pam Roberts, professor of plant pathology and state Extension specialist for vegetable pathology at the University …
Bacterial Spot Disease Worsening for Florida Tomatoes
According to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline, bacterial spot disease in tomatoes is worsening daily in Central Florida and North Florida. Infections are beginning to move up the plant. Bacterial leaf spot has started in early tomatoes in the Immokalee, Florida area. Progression is similar to what scouts have observed in the Manatee County area. According to UF/IFAS, …