Lately, UGA Plant Disease Clinic at Tifton received number of watermelon transplants with typical Rhizoctonia symptoms.  Rhizoctonia infection may cause a sunken, necrotic lesion near the soil line in seedlings. The lesion girdles the stem, and the seedling collapses and dies quickly. Cultural control In the greenhouse or seedbed, use only new, pasteurized soil mix.…

Downy Mildew of Onion (Chris Tyson, Tattnall County Extension Agent) Downy Mildew of Vidalia Onion (Peronospora destructor) was confirmed in the Vidalia Onion growing region on March 19, 2018.  This can be a highly destructive disease, causing serious losses in yield and bulb quality.  Growers need to be aware of its presence in the area so they…

Please see the attached extension publication on Fusarium wilt of watermelon. Please click on the link to access:  B1485

Please contact your respective county extension agents to get the latest “Fungicide Spray Guide for Vegetables-2018”.

Because of the cold weather and freezing temperatures we have been experiencing, Sclerotinia sp. can be a problem in our cabbage, cauliflower, collards and other leafy brassicas. I would recommend a 5-day rotation with following fungicides; (Fontelis; at labeled rate) and (Endura; at labeled rate). Sclerotinia sclerotiorium usually begins on the lower stem, causing a watery soft…

To address questions about whiteflies and freezing temperatures, Dr. David Riley recently sent the following information. Based on the reference: OVERWINTERING AND COLD TOLERANCE OF BEMISIA-ARGENTIFOLII (HOMOPTERA, ALEYRODIDAE) IN COASTAL SOUTH-CAROLINA By: SIMMONS, AM (SIMMONS, AM); ELSEY, KD (ELSEY, KD), JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGICAL SCIENCE, Volume: 30  Issue: 4  Pages: 497-506. DOI: 10.18474/0749-8004-30.4.497, Published: OCT 1995…

A new species of stubby root nematode was found for the first time in Tattnall county, GA infesting onion severely. Stubby root nematodes are soilborne parasites and virus vectors that feed on the root tips of onion and cause stunting and deformation of the roots. The damage symptoms in the field are patchy and can…

Extension specialists, research scientists and extension agents working on cucurbits had a planning meeting on prioritizing research and extension needs for our cucurbit growers. We identified four important issues currently in GA: Whitefly and whitefly transmitted viral diseases (cucurbit leaf crumple and cucurbit yellow stunt disorder virus), Fusarium wilt of watermelon, Phytophthora capsici and plant…

Downy mildew of cabbage has been detected from Colquitt County in Georgia (Oct 22, 2017). These observations indicate that inoculum of downy mildew is currently in GA and under favorable conditions (cool and wet conditions) potential disease outbreak in cabbage and other cruciferous/cole crops can occur. I would suggest our growers to look for the downy mildew symptoms in their fields and start applying…

[caption id="attachment_381" align="alignnone" width="300"] Severe symptoms of Cucurbit leaf crumple virus on snapbeans[/caption]