Five Fusarium wilt management strategies

Management of Fusarium wilt of watermelon is one of the best examples of IPM.
Five practices can be used. Grafting is a stand-alone practice. It’s so effective that it’s not necessary to combine it with any other technique. The other four practices work best when combined. Cover cropping with vetch reduces the amount of Fusarium spores in soil. Delaying transplanting as long as possible. Soil temperatures above 78 to 81°F at 2- to 4-inch depths reduce the number of diseased plants. Choosing cultivars with resistance helps reduce the number of diseased plants in soils infested with Fusarium. The fifth technique is conventional fungicides.

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Michigan Cucurbit crop report – July 24, 2024

Downy mildew that affects melons and cucumbers has been confirmed in the main pickle production regions of Michigan.  Keep up to date on the development of this destructive cucurbit disease at the Hausbeck Downy Mildew News website.
Phytophthora capsici causes significant losses in squash and cucumber following heavy rains. The most obvious symptoms are entire plant wilts, and regions of white spores on the surface of fruits that look similar to powdered sugar. 

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