Cucurbit Crop and Disease updates from plant pathologists and cooperative extension agents in the South and Midwest.
Gummy stem blight
Management of Gummy Stem Blight
UF/IFAS Extension confirmed this week that gummy stem blight disease is beginning to become a problem for Florida watermelons. Gummy stem blight causes lesions on leaves and stems and leads to defoliation. The disease favors warm, wet conditions.
Disease update for Florida watermelons
UF/IFAS Extension reports on disease priorities for Florida cucurbit growers. Management of Downy mildew, gummy stem blight, and powdery mildew management on watermelon and cantalope.
Gummy Stem Blight on watermelon and cucumbers
According to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline, Gummy stem blight disease has increased in cucurbit fields across southwest Florida in recent weeks. It has become the predominate disease in some watermelon fields in the area. The disease remains moderate in cucumber crops on the east coast.
Watermelon Fungicide Guide
Early Career Scientist Spotlight | Luis Rivera-Burgos
Luis Rivera-Burgos worked on breeding watermelon for gummy stem blight resistance with Dr. Todd Wehner on the first CucCAP project. Their research focused on the evaluation of resistance to Gummy Stem Blight in a population of recombinant inbred lines of watermelon x Citron.
Michigan vegetable crop report – Aug. 4, 2021
“Downy mildew continues to infect cucumber plantings. Powdery mildew and gummy stem blight are starting to show up in hard squashes.”
Early Career Scientist Spotlight | Samikshya Rijal
CucCAP scientist Samikshya Rijal is working on watermelon breeding and genetics. Her primary goal is to assist in the development of gummy stem blight (GSB) resistant breeding material.