Many of you are getting ready to start planting your seeds in the greenhouse, especially if you are planning to transplant. Regardless of the time you start or the type of crop you are planting, it is important to ensure that you have clean and disinfected areas in your greenhouse to prevent disease infections and…Read more about Cleaning and Disinfesting Your Greenhouse Before Planting[Read More]
Cesar Escalante
Pathogen and symptoms Wirestem is a disease of cole crops (e.g., broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage) caused by the soilborne fungus Rhizoctonia solani. This summer, cole growers from the state’s northern region reported that their crops were affected by poorly developed root systems. Upon examination, the plants showed brown stems (figure 1) and narrow roots with…Read more about Management of Wirestem of Cole Crops[Read More]
Root-knot nematode (RKN, Meloidogyne spp.) is a major problem in cucurbits such as watermelon, cantaloupe, cucumber, pumpkin, and squash. The reason RKN is problematic lies in their ability to persist for long periods in the soil and their wide host range, which includes more than 2,000 plant species, including crops and weeds. RKN infestations are…Read more about Battling Root-knot Nematodes In Commercial Cucurbit Crops[Read More]
Bacterial fruit blotch (BFB) is a disease caused by the pathogen Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli. Most cucurbit crops are affected by this disease, although watermelon cultivars are commonly more susceptible. However, this summer, I received cantaloupe samples (Figures 1 and 2) that tested positive for BFB using serological tests. When environmental conditions are conducive,…Read more about Bacterial Fruit Blotch On Cucurbits[Read More]