New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station
Plant & Pest Advisory
Vegetable Alert
Date: 06/28/12 Alert Author: Andy Wyenandt
Pest: basil downy mildew
Found: Basil downy mildew has been confirmed on sweet basil in a community garden in Morris County, NJ. This is the first confirmed report of basil downy mildew in New Jersey this year and much sooner than last year's first report (7/20/11).
Crop(s) at risk: all basil in New Jersey and surrounding region.
Potential impact: Significant losses will occur if not controlled properlyPest: basil downy mildew
Found: Basil downy mildew has been confirmed on sweet basil in a community garden in Morris County, NJ. This is the first confirmed report of basil downy mildew in New Jersey this year and much sooner than last year's first report (7/20/11).
Crop(s) at risk: all basil in New Jersey and surrounding region.
What growers should do:
Control of downy mildew begins with regular scouting, recognizing symptoms and weekly protectant fungicide applications. Now that Downy mildew has been detected in the state all basil growers should scout on a daily basis and should add a labeled downy mildew specific fungicide to their weekly fungicide program. Phosphite fungicides (FRAC code 33) have shown the best efficacy in trials at RAREC. Both ProPhyt and K-Phite have downy mildew labels under herbs. Actinovate (OMRI- approved) is also labeled for downy mildew control.
Please remember, all abandoned basil fields should be sprayed with gramoxone or worked under immediately after last harvest to kill the foliage! Abandoned fields left unattended after use will only serve as a source of inoculum for other fields.
If you suspect basil downy mildew on your farm, please contact your county agent.
