Downy mildew found on sweet basil in southern New Jersey

Downy mildew has been confirmed on sweet basil near Vineland, NJ in Atlantic and Cumberland Counties. These are the first confirmed reports of basil downy mildew in New Jersey this year.


Crop(s) at risk: all basil in New Jersey and surrounding region.

Potential impact: Significant losses will occur if not controlled properly

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 NJ all basil growers should be scouting 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 disced under immediately after last harvest to kill the remaining 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 or Andy Wyenandt (856) 455-3100 ext 4144.

Cucurbit downy mildew found on canteloupe in southern New Jersey

Found: Cucurbit downy mildew has been confirmed on cucumber and canteloupe in southern New Jersey.

Crop(s) at risk: all cucurbit crops in New Jersey.

Potential impact: Significant losses will occur if not controlled properly

What growers should do:

Control of downy mildew begins with regular scouting, recognizing symptoms and weekly preventative fungicide applications. Now that cucurbit downy mildew has been detected in a cucurbit crop other than cucumber, all cucurbit growers in the region should be scouting on a daily basis and applying downy mildew specific fungicides in their weekly maintenance programs.

All abandoned cucumber and summer squash fields should be sprayed with gramoxone or disced 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 once downy mildew makes its way into our area.

Please see the 2011 Commercial Vegetable Recommendations Guide for specific fungicide recommendations

To track the progress of cucurbit downy mildew in the eastern US and to keep up with reports of Downy mildew from other states please visit North Carolina State University’s Cucurbit Downy Mildew Forecasting Center at http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/pp/ cucurbit/.

If you suspect downy mildew on your farm, please contact your county agent or Andy Wyenandt (856) 455-3100 ext 4144.

Pythium in Tomato and Pepper

Yesterday I was in tomato and pepper fields looking at problems in both these crops. Tomato showed magnesium deficiency (interveinal chlorosis in older leaves). Some plants showed wilting, some dramatic, some wilting slightly. At first glance of inspecting roots they looked fine. When tugging on the outer covering of the roots they slid off incidicating Pythium root rot. Cutting open the stem at the base showed slight browning of the vascular system. The same root and stem symptoms were found in pepper. Growers admit with the heat and heavy crop loads this time of year they have been pushing water to keep plants going and to prevent blossom end rot. However, high amounts of soil moisture has made for favorable conditions for disease infection. Be sure to not over water crops. The use of soil moisture monitoring devices is so important to accurately irrigate fields. Nutrient deficiencies can also be induced from not having a healthy root system to uptake nutrients like Calcium and Magnesium and others.
Michelle Infante-Casella
Agricultural Agent
Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension, Gloucester Co.

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug hatching now

Growers are reporting seeing newly hatched nymphs and egg masses of stink bugs in peppers. If the antennae have a white/yellow band, they are likely Brown Marmorated Stink Bug. Consult the 2011 Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations for control options. RCE Vegetable Entomologist Gerry Ghidiu indicates most of what's labeled is listed in the production manual though Orthene and a couple of others have added BMSB to their labels. Now is the time to control them. They're most susceptible when you see egg masses and newly hatched nymphs that can't fly yet.

Also consult our new BMSB page to monitor the insect's spread in NJ: http://njbmsb.blogspot.com/2011/06/ipm-update-bmsb-activity-week-ending.html

Cucurbit Downy Mildew and Alternaria in Atlantic County

Cucurbit downy mildew was observed yesterday on cucumber on a small farm near Mays Landing, NJ. Andy's last recommendation called for all commercial cucurbit growers to include a downy mildew specific fungicide(s) in their weekly fungicide program. For more information on controlling cucurbit downy mildew please see the 2011 Commercial Vegetable Recommendations.

On an adjacent planting of muskmelons, similar chlorotic spots progressed to necrotic bull's eye lesions and turned out to be alternaria. Equally devastating to cucurbits, preventative applications of products containing chlorothalonil or mancozeb (be aware of sensitive varieties) are the same as for Downy Mildew, but rotation to alternate FRAC groups is slightly different. Consult the Commercial Vegetable Recommendations for alternatives.

Rick VanVranken

About nuturing the Jersey tomato

Words to the wise from blogging co-conspirator and "Rutgers expert on sustainable agriculture", Jack Rabin, on growing Jersey tomatoes:

“If you are not doing this intelligently, it’s a path to misery.”

Full story and nice article on a Jersey tomato value-added success story here.
Rick VanVranken

National US Fruit and Vegetable Advisory Committee needs your input

Don't let California set all the rules! From the Imperial Valley News (July 11, 2011),

California Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross is encouraging members of the California agricultural community to nominate representatives of the state’s fruit and vegetable industry to serve on the nation’s Fruit and Vegetable Advisory Committee for the 2011-2013 term.