Feb 28, 2025

Growers share concerns and 2025 vegetable disease control methods

The challenges from disease continue to confront vegetable, tree fruit, berry, grape and melon growers across the nation. As the 2025 season unfolds, growers expect to rely more heavily on effective 2025 vegetable disease control methods to protect their crops.

A recent survey conducted by Vegetable Growers News revealed insights on the most prevalent disease issues and concerns, as well as the type of support growers are seeking to combat them.

Crop challenges

In the late 2024 survey, fruit and vegetable growers listed more than 30 diseases they battle, from anthracnose to neopestalotiopsis, also known as pestalotia leaf spot and fruit rot on strawberries.

When polled about the most significant challenges, growers cited an array of diseases, including blights, mildews, rots and rusts. Each disease contributed equally to the survey results, regardless of how often it was mentioned.

Fire blight emerged as the most significant disease threat. Up to 20% of respondents said fire blight can kill apple trees and entire orchards, calling it their most troublesome challenge. Fire blight also damages pears, raspberries and other rose family plants.

Downy mildew followed, listed by 18% of respondents as a major concern. Powdery mildew was third at 16%. Anthracnose and scab each polled at 12.7%, while phytophthora rated 11%. Botrytis and bacterial spot each received 7%/

Bitter rot accounted for 4% of responses, but when combined with other rots — brown rot, soft rot, crown rot and leather rot — rots represented 25% of survey answers.

Blights as a group, including early and late blight, gummy stem blight (black rot), leaf blight, tomato blight, sclerotinia and cane blight, represented 11% of responses.

2025 disease worries

Growers anticipate continued disease challenges in 2025. Fire blight remained the top concern at 12%, followed by powdery mildew and scab at 11%. Diseases listed by 7% of growers included alternaria (black spot), anthracnose and downy mildew.

All rots combined represented 13% of responses, while blights as a category accounted for 7%.

Other troublesome diseases included alternaria, fusarium, bacterial wilt, marssonina, red and sooty leaf blotch viruses, mold, bacterial leaf streak (BLS), mummy berry (a fungal disease in blueberries), bacterial canker, glomerella in apples, cranberry false bottom, cucumber virus, pythium, vector in winegrapes, x-disease (western x), and northern corn leaf blight.

Sources for management information

To strengthen 2025 vegetable disease control methods, growers ranked their preferred sources for updated management practices. University Extension personnel topped the list at 55%. Crop protection companies and field reps followed at 14%, with other growers at 11%. Industry magazines accounted for 9%, while social media, government resources, and trade shows and conventions each represented 4%.

When asked what information would help most, growers listed:

• New control materials
• Fungicide updates
• Inexpensive management and treatment options
• Resistance management strategies
• Resistant varieties
• Biological and conventional control methods
• Organic controls
• The latest BMPs for down mildew and tomato diseases
• Fertility’s role in mitigating disease
• Best timing of chemical applications

Diverse crops represented

Survey respondents reported growing a wide range of crops. Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, pumpkins, squash and cabbage topped the list, followed by onions, leafy greens, broccoli and melons. Carrots, sweet corn, potatoes, cauliflower, strawberries, asparagus and sweet potatoes also ranked among primary crops.

Respondents also reported cultivating herbs, peas, garlic and okra, showing notable crop diversity.

Most of the growers surveyed (71%) cultivated fewer than 100 acres. Another 16% grew 100 to 499 acres. All respondents grew in fields, while 24% also used high tunnels or hoop houses, 14% grew in greenhouses, and 7% practiced hydoponics.

—  Doug Ohlemeier, Assistant Editor