• Do you lay fallow your fields during the winter until the following spring? If so, consider planting a suitable cover crop for management of plant-parasitic nematodes during winter months. Winter cover crops are usually grown in fall and begin growing the following spring. Cover crops are a valuable strategy for improving soil health if you realize…

  • Prevention is the best way to control plant-parasitic nematodes in vegetable crops. This summer, we conducted a survey of nematodes in most of the vegetable-growing systems in southern GA. After analyzing the collected samples, data on nematode species and counts were conveyed to growers participated in the survey through county extension agents. We noticed that…

  • Pesticide registration/review is always interesting, if nothing else. The 9th Circuit Court once again as ruled that all Lorsban registrations should be cancelled. This was more over procedural issues than safety, but safety is consistent area of discussion. DOW is working to maintain those labels and for now we still have them. The Department of…

  • I assume most of you know by now that Torac is registered for a variety of insect pests on a variety of crops. Torac is a new mode of action for most insects (it is the same as some acaricides) and is relatively broad spectrum. There are a few specific areas where I think it…

  • We are currently detecting a variety of whitefly-vectored viral diseases in vegetable crops. The two of greatest concern are cucurbit leaf crumple virus and tomato yellow leaf curl virus. Both have been detected in multiple counties in southern Georgia but are generally at low levels to date; unfortunately, this could change rapidly. Current levels of…

  • Silverleaf whitefly populations have increased in many areas in the last few weeks and will likely continue to increase as we stay above average temperatures. When we start to cool off at night, the population increases should slow down. We have been fortunate that we have not seen population explosions like we had last year.…

  • We have  recently confirmed Cucurbit leaf crumple virus (CuLCrV) on yellow squash at UGA, Tifton, GA. The symptoms  include crumpling, curling, yellowing and chlorosis of leaves. Infected plants appear stunted with distorted growth. Disease symptoms can be severe, especially in Cucurbita spp. (e.g., various types of squash), and may result in yield losses.  The virus spreads by whiteflies in a persistent manner. Current projections indicate  low disease incidence and…

  • Watermelon vine crash or decline has been reported from number of fields from different counties in southwest GA. Based on the county extension agents’ reports and also from the personal observations made by extension specialists (B. Dutta and T. Coolong), symptoms of vine decline are mostly associated with low-wet spots in the fields. However, we…

  • Powdery mildew is a common disease of cucurbits under field and greenhouse conditions in most areas of the United States.  Although all cucurbits are susceptible, symptoms are less common on cucumber and melon because many commercial cultivars have resistance. This disease can be a major production problem if not manage timely. Podosphaera xanthii and Erysiphe cichoracearum are the two…