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.