Vegetable Diseases Updates:

Cucurbit Powdery Mildew. Cucurbit powdery mildew, caused by the fungus Sphaerotheca fuliginea, was observed on pumpkin and squash fields in various locations throughout the state of Illinois during the past week. For more information on and control of cucurbit powdery mildew, click here and here.

Virus Diseases of Cucurbits. During the past week, heavy infection of virus diseases was observed in pumpkin and squash fields in central and southern Illinois. For information on virus diseases of cucurbits, click here.

Fruit Diseases Updates:

Cedar-Apple Rust. Cedar-apple rust has been observed in several apple orchards throughout Illinois. But the disease did not appear to be a threatening problem. However, one apple orchard in southern Illinois has been hit so severely that more than 25% of the leaves of most of the trees are killed. For more information on cedar-apple rust, click here.

Sooty Blotch/Flyspeck of Apple. Apples in southern Illinois that have not been sprayed against summer diseases are severely infected with sooty blotch/flyspeck. In one apple orchard, more than 80% of fruit of golden cultivars are infected with sooty blotch/flyspeck. For more information on sooty blotch/flyspeck of apples, click here.

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