Phytophthora on zucchini, Photo credit by Ben Werling, MSU Extension.
Harvest of processing zucchini, fresh-market winter squash, and other cucurbits is underway in Michigan.
Strategies to control Phytophthora fruit rot
- Implement an aggressive spray program for Phytophthora fruit rot.
- When plant death and fruit rot caused by Phytophthora are observed, disk under affected plants and surrounding healthy ones.
- Do fieldwork in Phytophthora infested fields last, to avoid moving infested soil to sites without the pathogen.
- Power wash equipment to remove infested soil.
Lastly, some growers have a mix of “virgin” ground and land with a history of the disease. If you are in this boat, . Then
Cucurbit downy mildew has been confirmed in Michigan
Five counties have reported capturing clade-2 Downy mildew spores through July 26. Clade-2 infects cucumbers, pickles and melons.
