Disease Control

First biocontrol from Biotalys demonstrates efficacy for growers

Biotalys, an agricultural technology company focused on addressing food protection challenges with protein-based biocontrol solutions, announced Nov. 15 the strong performance of its first biofungicide Evoca for grapes and strawberries in independent efficacy field trials... more »

Louisiana strawberries hit by crown rot disease

Louisiana growers have not yet finished planting this year’s strawberry crop, and a disease called crown rot has already been detected in a commercial field. This disease is caused by a soil-borne, fungal-like microorganism genus... more »

Expert cites anti-disease properties of peptides for use in specialty crops

Naturally occurring peptides, the building blocks of plant and animal proteins, show some effectiveness for fighting plant disease in specialty crops. So says Mauricio Flores, an international consultant who spoke Sept. 1 at the Peptides... more »

Fungicide assessment for cucurbit downy mildew management

Cucurbit production in Florida is impacted by downy mildew on an annual basis. Nearly continuous production of cucurbits occurs temporally throughout Florida, which puts extensive pressure on the pathogen population to select for individuals that... more »

Neopestalotiopsis disease in strawberry a growing concern

If you grow strawberry or are somehow related to the strawberry industry, you must have heard about a new emerging disease, Pestalotia leaf spot and fruit rot, caused by the fungus Neopestalotiopsis sp. The taxonomy of... more »

Tracking a bacterial culprit in the case of the warty pumpkin

On a Halloween pumpkin, warts and bumps have a certain spooky charm. But some unwanted bacteria-caused blemishes open the door to infections that rot and ruin this bright, seasonal fruit. Pseudomonas syringae is a rod-shaped bacterium... more »

Pythium in cucurbits: Temperature decides species

There are more than 300 species of pythium. Many don’t harm plants, but many do, and cucurbits are particularly susceptible. New research at Clemson University has identified some of the pythium species that most commonly... more »

Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus hits Salinas lettuce

As one of the largest producers of leafy greens, the Salinas Valley is well known for its reputation as the salad bowl of the world. But as the state tackled a global pandemic this past... more »