If you haven’t had the pleasure, please allow me to introduce you to the Harlequin bug, Murgantia histronica (Figure 1). This true bug (Order Hemiptera) is equipped with piercing-sucking mouthparts and has a preference for feeding on brassica crops. Unfortunately for us, their feeding results in white blotches on the leaf tissues (Figure 2), and…Read more about Insect Spotlight: Meet the Harlequin Bug![Read More]
Cabbage
Trichoplusia ni, commonly known as the cabbage looper, is a moth in the family Noctuidae. Native to North America, it is a polyphagous pest (feeds on lots of different plants) that can cause significant damage in a variety of crops and potentially lead to plant death. While cabbage looper has a large geographical distribution, it…Read more about Insect Spotlight: Cabbage Looper[Read More]
This time of year, my email inbox and phone text messages are filled with ugly photos of fruit and vegetable crops affected by suspected herbicide exposure. Sometimes the symptomology points toward a clear cause and effect, but most of the time, the answer is not so clear-cut. Here are a couple of recent examples: Cupping…Read more about Diagnosing Herbicide Injury is Easy… Sometimes.[Read More]
The Purdue Small Farm Education Field Day is presented on July 27, 2023, at the Purdue Student Farm in West Lafayette, IN. Registration for the field day is now open. To reserve your spot, visit https://cvent.me/ewWN3b. Students register for free! Please get in touch with Lori Jolly-Brown to receive the discount code for student registration….Read more about Purdue Small Farm Education Field Day – Registration Now Open[Read More]
The 2022 Purdue Small Farm Education Field Day was a big success. Nearly 72% of attendees reported that they learned something new. Nearly half indicated they plan to adopt recommended practices for diversified farming systems, and over a third (36.0%) plan to adopt recommended practices for creating, improving, or strengthening their business. Half (52.0%) indicated…Read more about Small Farm Education Field Day, July 27, 2023[Read More]
The 2022 Purdue Small Farm Education Field Day was a big success. Nearly 72% of attendees reported that they learned something new. Nearly half indicated they plan to adopt recommended practices for diversified farming systems, and over a third (36.0%) plan to adopt recommended practices for creating, improving, or strengthening their business. Half (52.0%) indicated…Read more about Small Farm Education Field Day – July 27, 2023[Read More]
I have observed the disease black rot of cabbage and broccoli this year. I have discussed the basics of this disease in April (Issue 701). Here, I would like to share some photos and observations. For a brief background, black rot is a bacterial disease that becomes systemic-that is, moves within the plant. The disease…Read more about Black rot of Brassica Crops[Read More]
The following is a brief report of the pest and non-infectious problems found on vegetable in Indiana over the past 10 days. Tomato-In high tunnels and greenhouses, scattered growers have observed leaf mold, gray mold and white mold. Tomato spotted wilt has also been observed on tomatoes in high tunnels. Unfortunately, herbicide drift has also…Read more about Scouting Report[Read More]
Cabbage is the crop most often affected by black rot, however, other crucifers such as broccoli, cauliflower, mustard, kohlrabi or brussels sprouts may be affected. The first symptom one is likely to notice is a V-shaped lesion on the margin of the leaf (Figure 1). However, severe symptoms may become irregular and jagged (Figure 2)….Read more about Black rot on Brassica Crops[Read More]
Late last season, I observed Alternaria leaf spot on kale. I want to use this article to review this disease on all brassica crops. This disease also occurs on broccoli, cabbage and other leafy brassicas. Alternaria leafspot usually doesn’t cause yield loss, but can cause unmarketable leaves. The symptoms on leaves usually include round, dark…Read more about Alternaria leaf spot of Brassicas[Read More]