Clemson Extension Agents Weekly Field Updates
On June 28, 2021, Clemson Extension agents provide weekly updates about the status of various crops being produced throughout South Carolina in The South Carolina Grower this week.
“Watermelons and cantaloupes are coming off well. However, we are seeing cucurbit downy mildew in watermelons. Spray programs will need to be robust to the end of harvest to manage the disease. The disease is characterized by brown or yellow spots on the leaves with a grey-purple sporulation on the underside of the leaves. Anthracnose is also starting to show up as angular lesions on the stems, leaves and fruit in some fields.”
On June 30, 2021, Dr. Anthony Keinath reports:
“Downy mildew was found on watermelon this week in Allendale and Barnwell counties. Although downy mildew does not infect fruit, it reduces sugar content once 1 in 4 leaves (25%) are infected.”
Downy mildew symptoms on the underside of a watermelon leaf. Image from The South Carolina Grower.
