The disease primarily impacts cucumbers and watermelons, but other cucurbits can also serve as hosts. Its symptoms consist of leaf spots, defoliation and an occasional fruit lesion. It can also spread in the fruit bins after harvest, which makes it more difficult to control.
Author: cuccap
Florida producing high volumes of watermelons
Watermelon supply in the U.S. market has been nearly 6% below the average of 2019-2023 during the same period.
Gummy stem blight challenges Florida growers
Gummy stem blight causes lesions on leaves and stems and leads to defoliation. The disease favors warm, wet conditions.
Cucurbit Genetics Cooperative report #47
CucCAP scientist Amnon Levi, Linda Wessel Beaver and Todd Wehner are members of the CGC Coordinating Committee. They collaborated with the Cucurbit research community to publish CGC Report 47 for 2024. This report includes the 2024 Watermelon Gene List.
Michigan Cucurbit update | June 12, 2024
Field-planted cucumbers and zucchini are close to the first harvest in southwest Michigan. Angular leaf spot has been found in at least one farm, which can look like downy mildew. The Hausbeck lab at Michigan State University has begun deploying its spore traps for monitoring downy mildew as it as it moves north.
Excessive Spring rain challenged watermelon crop
Early onset of foliar diseases, like downy mildew and gummy stem blight with a little bit of anthracnose made this an expensive spray year.
2024 Fusarium wilt experiment in SC
More Evidence that Choosing Grafting or the Right Cultivar is More Important than Using Fungicides to Manage Fusarium Wilt of Watermelon
Whitefly infestations observed in Florida
Whiteflies are responsible for transmitting multiple viruses, including cucurbit leaf crumple virus and cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus.
