Vegetable and Fruit Crops Pathology

I. Sooty Blotch and Flyspeck of Apple

Sooty blotch and flyspeck are two of the most common diseases of apple that often occur on fruit at the same time. These diseases are wide spread in the Midwest. Since both diseases are controlled in the same way, they are usually considered together.

Sooty blotch and flyspeck are most prevalent in the damp, shaded areas of an orchard. Any practice that improves air movement and promotes rapid drying greatly improves control. To control these diseases, fungicides must be applied, starting shortly after petal fall (calyx) and continuing when cooler weather occurs in the autumn prior to harvest. Most growers apply preventive fungicide spray on a 10- to 14-day schedule for control of sooty blotch/flyspeck. However, there are a wide range of integrated pest management (IPM) options available to growers who wish to reduce pesticide use. The effective IPM methods are: cultural methods (pruning, bramble management, thinning, mowing, cultivar selection) and chemical methods(weather-based spray timing, reduced-risk fungicides, organic fungicides). For more informaton on sooty blotch and flyspeck of appels, click here.

II. Illinois Summer Horticulture Day

Illinois Summer Horticulture Day will be held in Edwards Apple Orchard near Poplar Grove, Illinois, on June 16, 2005.Edwards Apple Orchard is located near Poplar Grove, Illinois, approximately fifteen miles northeast of Rockford and 80 miles northwest of Chicago. Robert (Sr.) and Audrey Edwards raised corn, soybeans and livestock on the farm through the early 1960's. In 1963, Robert (Jr.) and Betty Edwards purchased the property and began the transition from dairy and row crop production to apple orchard and farm market. Ken and Barb (Edwards) Hall joined the family business in 1984, and purchased the business from Bob and Betty (Barb's parents) in 1990. Today, their focus continues to be on apples. They currently grow eleven varieties of apples (including Honey Crisp) forty-five acres. The trees are of dwarf and semi-dwarf types. Pumpkins and raspberries are also important crops and they grow small amounts of gourds, squash, ornamental corn and chrysanthemums. Pick-your-own apples has been a popular activity there for more than thirty years. they also offer pumpkins and raspberries as pick-your-own crops. For more information on Edwrds Apple Orchard, celick here.

III. Identifying and Manageing Cucurbit Pests

The publication Identifying and Managing Cucurbit Pests; Diseses, Insects, and Weeds in now available. To Place on order call 1-800-345-6087 or visit the website www.PublicationsPlus.uiuc.edu. For more information, click here.

June 3, 2005
	I. Sooty Blotch and Flyspeck of Apple Sooty blotch and flyspeck are two of the most common diseases of apple that often occur on fruit at the same time. These diseases are wide spread in the Midwest. Since both diseases are controlled in the same way, they are usually considered together. Sooty blotch and flyspeck are most prevalent in the damp, shaded areas of an orchard. Any practice that improves air movement and promotes rapid drying greatly improves control. To control these diseases, fungicides must be applied, starting shortly after petal fall (calyx) and continuing when cooler weather occurs in the autumn prior to harvest. Most growers apply preventive fungicide spray on a 10- to 14-day schedule for control of sooty blotch/flyspeck. However, there are a wide range of integrated pest management (IPM) options available to growers who wish to reduce pesticide use. The effective IPM methods are: cultural methods (pruning, bramble management, thinning, mowing, cultivar selection) and chemical methods(weather-based spray timing, reduced-risk fungicides, organic fungicides). For more informaton on sooty blotch and flyspeck of appels, click *here. II. Illinois Summer Horticulture Day Illinois Summer Horticulture Day will be held in Edwards Apple Orchard near Poplar Grove, Illinois, on June 16, 2005.Edwards Apple Orchard is located near Poplar Grove, Illinois, approximately fifteen miles northeast of Rockford and 80 miles northwest of Chicago. Robert (Sr.) and Audrey Edwards raised corn, soybeans and livestock on the farm through the early 1960's. In 1963, Robert (Jr.) and Betty Edwards purchased the property and began the transition from dairy and row crop production to apple orchard and farm market. Ken and Barb (Edwards) Hall joined the family business in 1984, and purchased the business from Bob and Betty (Barb's parents) in 1990. Today, their focus continues to be on apples. They currently grow eleven varieties of apples (including Honey Crisp) forty-five acres. The trees are of dwarf and semi-dwarf types. Pumpkins and raspberries are also important crops and they grow small amounts of gourds, squash, ornamental corn and chrysanthemums. Pick-your-own apples has been a popular activity there for more than thirty years. they also offer pumpkins and raspberries as pick-your-own crops. For more information on Edwrds Apple Orchard, celick here. III. Identifying and Manageing Cucurbit Pests The publication Identifying and Managing Cucurbit Pests; Diseses, Insects, and Weeds* in now available. To Place on order call 1-800-345-6087 or visit the website www.PublicationsPlus.uiuc.edu. For more information, click here.