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Diseases and Insects in Michigan Cucurbits and Their Management by Charles Krasnow1, Mary Hausbeck1, Alexandria Bryant2, William R

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Diseases and Insects in Michigan Cucurbits and Their Management by Charles Krasnow1, Mary Hausbeck1, Alexandria Bryant2, William R Page 1 Diseases and insects in Michigan cucurbits and their management by Charles Krasnow1, Mary Hausbeck1, Alexandria Bryant2, William R. Morrison III2, Benjamin Werling3, Nicole Quinn2, Zsofia Szendrei2 and Amanda Buchanan2 1MSU Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences; 2MSU Department of Entomology; 3Michigan State University Extension Extension Bulletin E3276 Please refer to MSU Extension Bulletin E0312, “Insect, DISEASES Disease and Nematode Control for Commercial Vegetables,” to learn which pesticides are labeled for the Cucurbit crops are an important component of the pro- uses suggested in this bulletin. The publication is updated cessing and fresh market vegetable industry in Michigan. each year and can be purchased by searching for E0312 at There are many plant pathogens that can affect these the website shop.msu.edu. crops and cause significant economic loss if left untreated. Downy mildew is an airborne pathogen that has been an Phytophthora blight annual threat to cucumber production in Michigan since 2005 and needs to be intensively managed to prevent Phytophthora capsici (“fungal-like” organism or water- catastrophic losses. Phytophthora blight affects all com- mold) mercially available cucurbit cultivars. The fruit rot phase Identification of this disease can be especially challenging to manage due • Damping off of seedlings. to direct contact of fruit with the soil and the dense foliar » Typically occurs in soils that remain saturated for canopy that precludes thorough fungicide coverage of the fruit. Anthracnose and angular leaf spot are sporadic in extended periods, especially low lying areas of a field. Michigan, but can be devastating in certain years and envi- • Crown and root rot. ronmental conditions. » Wilting of mature plants followed by collapse. Crown tissue may be water-soaked and sunken. Wilted plants do not regain turgor after irrigation. • Fruit rot. » Lesions on fruit are water-soaked, soft and sunken, and appear darker than surrounding fruit. The lesions rapidly join to cover entire fruit during warm and humid weather, especially with free Phytophthora lesions on squash (left) and watermelon (right). Note the white moisture present. “powdered sugar” appearance of Phytophthora capsici sporangia on surface of » Advanced lesions on fruit are covered lesions. with pathogen spores (sporangia) that have a powdered sugar appearance. Biology • The “fungal-like” organism produces an overwintering structure (oospore) when two mating types of the pathogen are pres- ent on infected plant tissue. • The oospore resides in soil and can remain in a field for 10 years in the absence of a susceptible crop. Most fields with a Wilting summer squash plant Water-soaking and blight of immature sum- Phytophthora problem in the Midwest have infected with Phytophthora. mer squash fruit and stems. oospores in the soil. Page 2 • The oospore will germinate and infect squash, cucum- Downy mildew bers and melons (all cucurbit crops) during periods of Pseudoperonospora cubensis (“fungal-like” organism or warm temperatures and moisture favorable for plant watermold) growth. • The asexual spores (sporangia) are produced on Identification infected plant tissue and often appear in lesions as a layer • Yellow lesions on leaf surface that are bound by leaf of “powdered sugar.” veins. • Each sporangia releases swimming spores (zoospore) • Lesions may look similar to angular leaf spot. The when in contact with free moisture. The swimming spore “dirty” or “fuzzy” appearance of downy mildew fungal spreads with irrigation water, ponding water in the field growth on the underside of leaves is a telltale sign of and saturated soil conditions. The spores of Phytophthora downy mildew and is best observed in the morning. capsici are not airborne. • Leaf yellowing turns brown as infection progresses. • Virgin fields can become infected with Phytophthora Biology capsici if irrigated with water infested with spores or if • The pathogen is “obligate” and cannot survive without infested soil adhering to machinery is moved among fields. a living crop. Management • Survives in southern production states and in green- • Managing Phytophthora blight takes an integrated houses that grow cucurbits, and moves into Midwest approach, no single tactic is completely effective in manag- production fields during the growing season. ing the pathogen. • Infects foliage and produces spores on the underside of • Water management. the leaf. The spores are airborne. » Use raised plant beds and well-drained, tiled fields. • Cool (about 60 degrees Fahrenheit), wet and cloudy » Use a clean irrigation water source like well water. conditions are ideal for infection and pathogen spread. » Avoid irrigating with surface water such as streams, • Can completely blight foliage in as little as 14 days. dikes and ditches. • Crop rotation. » Rotate with non-host crops for three years. » All cucurbits, peppers, tomatoes, eggplants and snap beans are susceptible to Phytophthora blight. • Power wash equipment when moving between fields. • Do not dump diseased culls into production fields. • Fumigation: Refer to MSU Extension Bulletin E0312, “Insect, Disease and Nematode Control for Commercial Vegetables,” for available fumigants and http://www2.epa. gov/soil-fumigants for fumigation requirements. • Fungicide application. » Fungicides should be applied to the soil at trans- plant. Field with severe downy mildew. » Sprays directed at the crown of the plant are beneficial if prod- uct applied with sufficient solu- tion to soak the soil. » Drip applied fungicides are recommended for root and crown rot. » Use foliar sprays to protect fruit, applied with an air-assist sprayer that forces product into the lower plant canopy. Top and bottom surface of downy mildew-infected cucumber leaf. Note the gray-purple fungal growth on the leaf underside. Page 3 Shriveled pumpkin handle caused Powdery mildew colonies on upper and lower surface of cucurbit foliage. by powdery mildew. Management Management • Maintain good plant spacing for adequate airflow. • Avoid planting early squash and cucumbers adjacent or • Plant cultivars with partial resistance (no resistant culti- downwind of fields that will later be planted to pumpkins vars available). and winter squash. • Scout regularly for initial lesions. • Use resistant cultivars, although resistance not available • A map of Michigan counties affected by cucurbit downy in watermelon. mildew during each growing season can be found at http:// • Scout fields before applying fungicides. An IPM veggies.msu.edu. approach is to initiate spraying when there is one colony • Apply fungicides on a seven-day schedule before disease per 45 leaves. is detected and a five-day schedule after disease is detected. • Use air-assist sprayers to apply fungicides to promote thorough coverage of foliage. Powdery mildew • Alternate fungicides with different FRAC groups to delay pathogen resistance. The FRAC group can be found Sphaerotheca fuliginea (fungus) at the top of the fungicide label. Identification • White powdery fungal colonies (powdery layer) on top Anthracnose and bottom surface of leaf. • “Colonies” range in size from 0.0625 inches to covering Colletotrichum lagenarium (fungus) the entire leaf surface. Identification • Powdery colonies on the underside of the leaf are often • Roughly circular, light brown lesions on foliage. apparent as yellow spots on the upper surface of the leaf. » Lesion center may fall out, leaving shot-hole appear- • “Powdery layer” does not wash off with rain or irriga- ance. tion. • More frequently seen on mature and senescent foliage. Biology • Lesions on stems appear elongated and tan. • Usually occurs in mid-summer on all cucurbits. • Sunken lesions may form on fruit approaching maturity. • Is favored by warm temperatures and high moisture. They are often circular and may contain pinkish spore » Often observed first in low areas of a field with masses and black fungal growth during high humidity. limited air flow. Biology » Does not need free-water on leaf surface to infect. • Pathogen produces abundant spores in lesions under • Is favored by dense plantings because the fungus likes humid conditions and is favored by warm temperatures of shaded areas, such as the middle of the plant canopy. 75 F. • Older leaves are more susceptible, but all leaves can be • Requires splashing water for spore dispersal. infected. • Survives in crop debris. • Can infect stems and pumpkin handles, causing shriveling. • Can be introduced into fields in infested seed or trans- • Infection pre-disposes plants to other diseases. plants. Page 4 Anthracnose fruit rot. Note circular lesions and black fungal growth. Above and below: Anthracnose lesions. Initial lesions and advanced black rot (Didymella bryoniae) affecting pumpkin fruit. Gummy stem blight on cucurbit foliage. Management • One year crop rotation out of cucurbit crops and deep tillage of crop residues after harvest. • Plant resistant cultivars, which are available for cucum- ber and watermelon. • Only irrigate with what is necessary for healthy plant growth. Additional water enhances pathogen spread. » Avoid overhead irrigation. » Irrigate in the morning to limit leaf wetness duration if using overhead irrigation. • Use weekly fungicide applications once initial lesions are observed. • Harvest in the afternoon after dew has dried from • Black rot affects the fruit of most cucurbits, although leaves. Field activity can facilitate disease spread when leaf watermelon, zucchini and summer
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