Downy mildew affects cucumber crops in South Carolina every year and can cause huge crop losses. Clemson University researchers say planting early can cut growers’ losses.
CucCAP Disease Management Team
The Disease Management Team contributions to the CucCAP project include English and Spanish factsheets about cucurbit crop and disease management strategies including images of disease symptoms for crop producers, articles about cucurbit plant pathology, and articles about the team’s research efforts and accomplishments.
Integrated Disease Management Team | 2021 Progress Report
Early Career Scientist Spotlight | Jack Mascarenhas
As an undergraduate research assistant in the Quesada Vegetable Pathology Lab at NC State University, Jack Mascarennas assisted Research Specialist Mike Adams with cucurbit disease field trials conducted for the first CucCAP project.
CucCAP researchers develop new methods for detection and analysis of downy mildew pathogen on cucumber
Researchers in Dr. Mary Hausbeck’s group at MSU have developed a highly sensitive DNA-based protocol to genetically distinguish between spores of cucumber downy mildew and hop downy mildew from spore trap samples. The enhanced sensitivity enables detection 5-10 days before symptoms appear in cucumber fields, providing a broader window for initiation of chemical control.
Cultivar selection key factor in managing Fusarium wilt
CucCAP scientists translate genomic studies into novel detection method for precision management of downy mildew outbreaks
Downy mildew caused by Pseudoperonospora cubensis is the most destructive foliar disease affecting cucurbit crops. Genomic studies by Dr. Lina Quesada-Ocampo and colleagues at North Carolina State University showed that different isolates preferentially infect different cucurbit crops. From this information, a multiplex PCR-based assay was combined with spore trapping to identify which crops are most at risk. These results can facilitate timely and crop-specific fungicide application prior to appearance of symptoms in sentinel plots.
Early Career Scientist Spotlight | Matthew Uebbing
Matthew is evaluating fungicide sensitivity of CDM to single fungicide products and efficacy of forecasters in controlling CDM and spore trapping of P. cubensis using impaction spore traps.
PDMR 15 – Plant Disease Management Reports for Cucurbits
PDMR, Volume 15, 2021
Results of 2020 field trials, Published in 2021.
Plant Disease Management reports for cucumbers and squash.
