Vegetable and Fruit Crops Pathology

I. Managing Phytophthora Blight of Cucurbits

An integrated approach with fungicide seed treatment, field scouting, and fungicide spray was developed to manage Phytophthora blight, caused by Phytophthora capsici, in cucurbit fields. Seed treatment with Apron XL LS (0.65 fl oz/100 lb of seed) significantly reduced pre- and post-emergence seedling infection until five weeks after sowing seeds. Field scouting, especially after major rainfall, and disking areas with localized infected plants, significantly reduced spread of the disease within the field. In experimental plots, under heavy disease pressure, seed treatment with Apron XL LS (0.65 fl oz/100 lb of seed) and spry applications of Acrobat 50WP (6.4 oz/A) plus copper sulfate (2 lb of Cuprofix Disperss 36.9DF/A) alternated with Tanos 50WDG (10 oz/A) plus copper hydroxide (2 lb of Kocide-2000/A), at weekly intervals, resulted in only 11.7% vine and 9.8% fruit infection, compared to 36.7 and 49.4% vine and fruit infection, respectively, in untreated plots. In commercial fields, integration of seed treatment with Apron XL LS (0.65 fl oz/100 lb of seed), field scouting and disking localized infected plants, and spray application of Acrobat 50WP (6.4 oz/A) plus copper hydroxide (1.33 pt of Champ 37.5F/A) alternated with Tanos 50WDG (8 oz/A) plus Champ 37.5F (1.33 pt/A), at 7-day intervals, beginning first sign of Phytophthora blight, reduced yield losses to less than 10%, compared to more than 50% yield losses in untreated fields. For more information, 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.

May 13, 2005
	I. Managing Phytophthora Blight of Cucurbits An integrated approach with fungicide seed treatment, field scouting, and fungicide spray was developed to manage Phytophthora blight, caused by Phytophthora capsici, in cucurbit fields. Seed treatment with Apron XL LS (0.65 fl oz/100 lb of seed) significantly reduced pre- and post-emergence seedling infection until five weeks after sowing seeds. Field scouting, especially after major rainfall, and disking areas with localized infected plants, significantly reduced spread of the disease within the field. In experimental plots, under heavy disease pressure, seed treatment with Apron XL LS (0.65 fl oz/100 lb of seed) and spry applications of Acrobat 50WP (6.4 oz/A) plus copper sulfate (2 lb of Cuprofix Disperss 36.9DF/A) alternated with Tanos 50WDG (10 oz/A) plus copper hydroxide (2 lb of Kocide-2000/A), at weekly intervals, resulted in only 11.7% vine and 9.8% fruit infection, compared to 36.7 and 49.4% vine and fruit infection, respectively, in untreated plots. In commercial fields, integration of seed treatment with Apron XL LS (0.65 fl oz/100 lb of seed), field scouting and disking localized infected plants, and spray application of Acrobat 50WP (6.4 oz/A) plus copper hydroxide (1.33 pt of Champ 37.5F/A) alternated with Tanos 50WDG (8 oz/A) plus Champ 37.5F (1.33 pt/A), at 7-day intervals, beginning first sign of Phytophthora blight, reduced yield losses to less than 10%, compared to more than 50% yield losses in untreated fields. For more information, 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.