Disease Control

Newly discovered protein in fungus bypasses plant defenses

A protein that allows the fungus that causes white mold stem rot in more than 600 plant species to overcome plant defenses has been identified by a team of U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research... more »

Advances made against cucumber downy mildew

Downy mildew is the disease to beat in pickling cucumbers, and there are three questions to ask: When do you begin fungicide applications? What fungicide should be used? Once a fungicide is sprayed, how many... more »

Louisiana strawberries hit by new plant disease

A new disease called Pestalotia leaf spot and fruit rot caused by the Neopestalotiopsis fungus species has been detected on strawberries in Tangipahoa Parish. Louisiana State University AgCenter plant doctor Raj Singh said an aggressive form... more »

Johnny’s connects with a phytopathologist, a basil grower and a breeder

Basil is a high-demand, high-value crop that consumers expect to be flawless on presentation. Growers need access to the best-performing, most disease-resistant basil varieties available, and as a committed partner in the success of our... more »

Study shows planting cucumbers early can help to avoid downy mildew

Downy mildew affects cucumber crops in South Carolina every year and can cause huge crop losses, but Clemson University researchers say planting early can cut growers’ losses to just about zero. A 2021 study conducted... more »

Strawberry disease ID: Neopestalotiopsis or a more traditional disease?

Since Neopestalotiopsis (or Pestalotia) was present in plug plant material distributed in Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic in the fall of 2021, here are some photos and tips on how to tell it apart from other... more »

Expanded use of Leap ES bacterial disease management insecticide OK’d

Valent BioSciences has announced that the U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has approved the expanded use of Leap ES Bacterial Disease Management Biological Insecticide. As a result of this approval, Leap ES is now registered... more »

Study: White clay spray mix repels tomato pest

Tomatoes are big business in Florida, the nation’s top producer of the popular fruit, but an insect no bigger than a grain of rice threatens growers’ fields each season. The whitefly prefers the underside of leaves, enjoying a variety... more »