In October 2022, South Carolina Cooperative Extension agents reported on hurricane damage and pest damage on cucurbit and other crops.
Author: cuccap
Cucurbit Downy Mildew updates October 2022 | ipmPIPE
Epidemic Updates
October 10: CDM has been confirmed on butternut squash in PA.;October 5 CDM has been confirmed on pumpkin in MS and on pumpkin in AL.
October 3: CDM has been confirmed on gourd and pumpkin in MS; on cucumberand on butternut squash in AL.
Whitefly Populations on Rise in Alabama | AgNet Media
Alabama cucurbit growers are already seeing increased whitefly populations in their fall crops. Whiteflies transmit cucurbit leaf crumple virus can cause severe symptoms on infected plants includine yellowing of leaves, leaf crumpling, plant stunting and overall plant decline. Squash, zucchini, and cucumber are susceptible to viruses transmitted by whiteflies.
South Florida Pest and Disease news
The South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline is a newsletter published by Florida Extension Agents. In October, the newsletter reported on crop damage caused by Hurricane Ian, whitefly observations on watermelons, Cucurbit leaf crumple virus in watermelons, and reports of gummy stem blight on watermelon in Southwest Florida.
CucCAP scientists identified candidate gene contributing to resistance to downy mildew in cucumber
Downy mildew (DM) is an important disease of cucumber and other cucurbits. Many quantitative trait loci (QTL) have been identified from different resistant resources but very few have been fine mapped or cloned. CucCAP researchers in USDA-ARS and the University of Wisconsin Madison reported identification and functional characterization of the candidate gene for the major-effect QTL, dm5.3, for DM resistance from the plant introduction line PI 197088. This gene, which can enhance plant disease signaling, is currently being used to breed for disease resistance in cucumber.
Pennsylvania Vegetable Disease Update
Downy mildew on jack-o-lantern pumpkin was reported for the region. Downy mildew has also been reported on summer squash in New Jersey and watermelon on Long Island, NY. These hosts are primarily affected by clade 1 isolates of cucurbit downy mildew. Before this, downy mildew has primarily been affecting cucumber and cantaloupe, which are largely affected by clade 2 isolates.
Cucurbit Genomics Database version 2
Version 2 of the Cucurbit Genomics database (CuGenDBv2) was released in April 2022. Database users will notice improved speed and performance.The updated database includes 33 reference genomes from 26 cucurbit species/subspecies belonging to 10 different genera; novel functions for mining and analysis of large-scale variant data; and a comprehensive cucurbit expression atlas.
Late Summer Watermelon disease management
Clemson Extension Agents Provide Crop Updates
SEPTEMBER 14, 2022. Coastal Region update: “Fall watermelons are looking good. There is some disease around, so fungicide applications remain crucial. I am finding whiteflies in a few crops, too. As we move into fall, with increasing numbers of misty mornings, scouting for diseases is going to be very important.”.
