Colletotrichum spp., which causes anthracnose is an emerging threat to watermelon and cucumber production in the east coast. UGA leads effort to tackle emerging threat to watermelons.
UGA Extension
Multistate Effort to Combat Anthracnose
Whitefly populations are on the rise
University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension vegetable entomologists describe squash plants that haven’t sprayed yet with 100 whiteflys per leaf.
Whitefly populations low across Southeast
Whiteflies can cause feeding injury issues in vegetables and transmit multiple viruses. These include cucurbit leaf crumple virus, cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus, cucurbit chlorotic yellow virus, squash vein yellowing virus and tomato yellow leaf curl virus. Vegetables like squash, zucchini, cucumber, and cantaloupe are highly susceptible to these viruses.
UGA research benefits watermelon growers
UGA Extension is tasked with studying challenges with pollination, disease tolerance, yields, maturity, size distribution, brix, the sweetness, rind pattern and firmness of different varieties of watermelon and making recommendations to Georgia growers.
Phytophthora concerns for Georgia watermelons
Phytophthora fruit rot is a water mold that attacks the fruits of watermelon plants. It thrives in rainy weather. It not only affects watermelons in the field, but also after harvest.
Fusarium wilt management
Research shows that Carolina Strongback rootstock is not immune to fusarium, but it does have a good level of resistance.
Whitefly population remains low in Georgia
Vegetables like squash, zucchini, cucumber and snap beans are susceptible to viruses transmitted by whiteflies.
