Southern rust of corn (caused by the fungus, Puccinia polysora) caused yield losses on several acres of corn in Kentucky during 2016, which raised awareness of this disease going into the 2017 growing season. The southern rust pathogen does not…
Vegetable Diseases to Scout for: Bacterial Spot of Pepper
Kentucky vegetable growers should be on the lookout for bacterial spot of pepper this week. As the most common disease of pepper in Kentucky, homeowners or growers not actively using preventative practices will likely experience at least some bacterial spot.…
Posted in Vegetables
Black Rot of Grapes
Black rot is a common disease of grapes in Kentucky. Due to the prevalence of this disease, it is also one of the most economically important diseases of grapes. Black rot can affect all young, developing, above ground plant tissues.…
Posted in Fruit
Increasing Spotted Wing Drosophila
Spotted wing drosophila (SWD) activity is increasing based on positive samples from several western, southern, and central Kentucky counties. We are still collecting negative samples from some counties, including farms in the same counties where other farms have been positive…
Posted in Fruit
Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab Highlights
The following plant disease highlights from the University of Kentucky Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratories represent recent sample submissions from field crops, fruit, vegetables, and ornamentals. Recent diagnostic samples of agronomic crops have included magnesium and zinc deficiency symptoms on corn;…
Posted in Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab
Watch for Spider Mites on Vegetables
As we move into the summer, keep in mind that hot and dry conditions can lead to some specific pest problems. Two-spotted spider mite (Figure 1) is a common pest of many vegetable crops during prolonged hot and dry periods.…
Posted in Vegetables
Apple Scab Picking on Kentucky Apple and Crabapple Trees
Apple scab is the most consistently serious disease of homegrown apple and flowering crabapple in Kentucky. The most noticeable losses on apple result from reduced fruit quality and from premature drop of infected fruit. Scab also causes a general weakening…
Posted in Fruit
