Southern blight, or basal stem rot as it is sometimes called, most commonly affects tomato, pepper, cucumbers, beans, and cabbage, but has a very wide host range and can infect many crops. The disease can occur in any system where…
Monthly Archives: May 2019
Avoid Introduction of Boxwood Blight into the Landscape
Boxwood blight can be devastating to American boxwood cultivars, which are common in the Kentucky landscape. Complete defoliation can occur within a week and plants can die within a single growing season. Use of tolerant cultivars, cultural practices, and fungicides…
Posted in Landscape Trees & Shrubs
EPA Cancels Sale and Use of Some Pesticides
Last week the EPA announced the cancelation of the registration for several pesticide registrations. These cancellations were voluntarily requested by the registrants. What this means is that any distribution, sale, or use of these products is subject to this cancellation. …
Posted in Pesticide Topics
USDA Survey of Fruit and Vegetables for Pesticide Residues
The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service recently released the 2017 Pesticide Data Program (PDP) report in which they summarize their survey of pesticide residues in selected produce. Each year they collect pesticide residue data on commodities most frequently consumed by infants…
Posted in Pesticide Topics
Videos for Home Fruit Growers
Dr. Nicole Gauthier has developed several short videos geared toward residential fruit growers. The videos cover management options for common tree and small fruit diseases and include sustainable and organic management techniques. Presentations vary from 4 minutes to approximately 7…
Posted in Featured Pubs & Videos
2019 Insect Trap Counts
Trap counts for major insect pests are provided by the Kentucky IPM Program. Traps are located at the UK Research and Education Center in western Kentucky and the UK Spindletop Farm in Lexington. Below are trap counts for the current…
Posted in Insect Trap Counts
Vegetable and Tobacco Diseases to Scout for: Botrytis Gray Mold
Kentucky growers, both of vegetables and tobacco, should be on the lookout for Botrytis gray mold. This disease may occur in the field under humid conditions, but is most common in greenhouses or high tunnels. Botrytis gray mold can also…
Posted in Tobacco, Vegetables
Shade Tree Anthracnose (PPFS-OR-W-23)
Anthracnose is the common name given to several fungal shade tree diseases with similar dark, irregularly-shaped leaf lesions. While they are primarily foliar diseases, damage on some hosts may extend to twigs, branches, and buds. Resulting defoliation and dieback, especially…
Posted in Featured Pubs & Videos
Submission of Tomato Plant Samples for Diagnosis
Tomatoes are a favorite vegetable crop in Kentucky gardens. However, this staple of the home garden often falls victim to diseases, insect pests, or abiotic conditions, such as poor site characteristics and planting practices, mechanical damage, chemical damage, etc. When…
Posted in Vegetables
Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab Highlights
The following plant disease highlights have been compiled from samples submitted to the University of Kentucky Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratories from May 1 to May 20, 2019. Diagnostic samples of agronomic crops have included Pythium and Rhizoctonia damping off, anthracnose,…
Posted in Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab
2019 Insect Trap Counts
Trap counts for major insect pests are provided by the Kentucky IPM Program. Traps are located at the UK Research and Education Center in western Kentucky and the UK Spindletop Farm in Lexington. Below are trap counts for the current…
Posted in Insect Trap Counts
Damage by Stink Bugs Observed in Seedling Corn
Problem on Corn Seedling corn presenting feeding injures caused by stink bug have been observed in commercial and research plots in western Kentucky. In a small replicate corn field test where seedlings were not more than 7 days emerged showed…
Posted in Grains
Fly Species that Thrive on Decomposing Organic Matter and Moist Environments Stand Out in the 2019 Planting Season in Different Crop Systems
Since mid-March until the beginning of May, reports, inquiries, and personal observations on the presence of several worms or flying insects that are becoming abundant on alfalfa, wheat and tobacco have caught my attention. All these fly species feed on…
Kentucky Turfgrass Disease Calendar (PPFS-OR-T-07)
Turfgrass in home and commercial lawns, including grasses in sports fields and golf courses, are subject to a number of different diseases. Knowing when these diseases are likely to be active can aid in identification and management. The Kentucky Turfgrass…
Posted in Featured Pubs & Videos
2019 Insect Trap Counts
Trap counts for major insect pests are provided by the Kentucky IPM Program. Traps are located at the UK Research and Education Center in western Kentucky and the UK Spindletop Farm in Lexington. Below are trap counts for the current…
Posted in Insect Trap Counts
Kentucky Pest News 