Powdery mildew is a common disease of cucurbits in Indiana. This disease is more common on cantaloupe and pumpkin. However, we have observed powdery mildew more frequently on watermelon in recent years. We have also observed this disease on cucumber in high tunnels. If left uncontrolled, this disease can cause loss of foliage, loss of[Read More…]
Dan Egel
The following article was written by a colleague located on Long Island in New York. She is an expert on cucurbit powdery mildew. The fungicides which are effective against cucurbit powdery mildew changes frequently as fungi become resistant to certain fungicides. While the situation Dr. McGrath describes may not match your field exactly, it makes[Read More…]
In the Midwest, three major bacterial diseases threaten tomato production. These diseases are bacterial canker, bacterial spot and bacterial speck. Although these diseases are all caused by bacteria, they vary in symptomology, biology and management options. In the last issue of the Vegetable Crops Hotline, we discussed bacterial canker. In this second in the series,[Read More…]
In the Midwest, three major bacterial diseases threaten tomato production. These diseases are bacterial canker, bacterial spot and bacterial speck. Although these diseases are all caused by bacteria, they vary in symptomology, biology and management options. We will discuss symptoms, biology and management of the three bacterial diseases in a series of newsletter articles. This[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…]
In the next month, many growers will start to plant pumpkins. This article will introduce aspects of disease management of pumpkins prior to the growing season. The information below is discussed under several of the most common diseases of pumpkins in Indiana. The objective of this article is to discuss what diseases are more likely[Read More…]
This time of year, when we are busy in the fields planting and prepping for a fruitful season, we need to be observant of the pest pressures that may be present. We have already had reports this year of cucumber beetles feeding on recently transplanted cucurbit crops, in particular melons and cucumbers. Let’s review why[Read More…]
The author of this article, Dan Egel, retired from Purdue University in February 2024. This article is a brief review of the symptoms of foliar diseases of tomatoes in greenhouses or high tunnels. Remember that foliar diseases of tomatoes that are observed in greenhouses or high tunnels are different than those found in the field.[Read More…]
A new strawberry disease has been found in Indiana and researchers are looking for samples to determine the extent of the problem. The disease, caused by a species of the fungus Neopestalotiopsis, has been reported in several southeastern states and other countries where it causes leafspots, fruit spots and a plant decline. In Indiana, the[Read More…]
Downy mildew of spinach can be an important disease of spinach. The lesions are often a bright yellow with irregular margins (Figure 1). With time, these lesions can become a light brown. The underside of the lesion is dark black or purple under moist conditions. Under very conducive conditions, sporulation can occur on the top[Read More…]