The University of Kentucky Extension Plant Pathology Team would like to provide the following updated guidelines for managing Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab operations during COVID-19 and the re-opening phases in Kentucky. Lexington PDDL Laboratory Until further notice, operations of the…
Monthly Archives: July 2020
Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab Operations Update
Posted in Announcements, Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab
Beware of Unsolicited Gifts (Seeds)!
People in several states, including several residents in Kentucky, have received unsolicited small packages of foreign seeds in the mail from China. Potentially these can pose a threat to Kentucky agriculture and the environment through the introduction of invasive plants…
Posted in Misc. Topics
New Disease Severity and Insect Defoliation Training Tool
Crop scouts and field researchers now have a new tool at their disposal to help correctly estimate disease severity and insect defoliation in field crops. The new online tool has been developed by the Crop Protection Network and can be…
Posted in Grains
Threecornered Alfalfa Hopper Found Cutting Soybeans
Problem In response to the Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent in Butler County (Gregory K Drake), we visited a soybean field that had plants cut off or lodged at 1 to 3 inches above ground (Figure 1). This field, which…
Posted in Grains
Southern Blight of Hemp
In 2018, there were significant increases in confirmed cases of southern blight in hemp. The fungal disease affects a wide range of plant species, as well as hemp. When stems and roots become infected, plants can wilt, decline, and/or die,…
Posted in Hemp
Cucurbit Downy Mildew Creeping Closer to Kentucky
Cucurbit downy mildew was confirmed on winter squash in central Tennessee on July 24, so all Kentucky cucurbit growers should be on alert for this disease in their crops. Symptoms are shown in Figures 1 and 2, on cucumber and…
Posted in Vegetables
How Dry Seasons Affect Woody Plants
Water is an essential component to plant mass and is vital to growth, carbohydrate production, and nutrient transport. During periods of below-average rainfall or when rain distribution is uneven, plant health may decline (Figure 1). Drought conditions or inadequate water…
Posted in Landscape Trees & Shrubs
Grape Powdery Mildew (video)
Dr. Nicole Gauthier, Plant Pathology Extension Specialist, has created a short video (3:04 minutes) focusing on grape powdery mildew. This video provides information on disease appearance and prevention. Grape Powdery Mildew is available online. For additional publications on small fruit…
Posted in Featured Pubs & Videos
2020 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
Phytophthora Root and Stem Rot Being Observed in Some Soybean Fields
In parts of the state where wet weather has continued through the season so far, one of the diseases being observed is Phytophthora root and stem rot, which is caused by the oomycete (aka water mold) pathogen Phytophthora sojae. This…
Posted in Grains
Southern Rust Confirmed in Kentucky
Southern rust of corn, caused by the fungus Puccinia polysora, was confirmed in Caldwell and Daviess counties in Kentucky on July 20, 2020. We typically confirm southern rust in Kentucky in mid-July, so the timing of these findings is on…
Posted in Grains
Asian Longhorned Tick: A New Tick in Town
Ticks are always a concern for those of us who like to go outside to hike or hunt and for those of us who work in outdoor settings. Ticks are annoying blood thieves and they are also potent disease vectors,…
Posted in Human Pests, Livestock Pests
Black Spot of Rose (PPFS-OR-W-10)
Black spot is the most common and serious disease of roses in Kentucky, affecting susceptible cultivars in greenhouse production and outdoor plantings. This one page fact sheet covers symptoms, cause, disease development, and management options. Black Spot of Rose (PPFS-OR-W-10)…
Posted in Featured Pubs & Videos
2020 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
Managing Mosquitoes
As we move into the heart of the summer months, mosquito activity often begins to increase. That can mean more hungry mosquitoes searching for blood meals! There are a number of practices we can adopt to reduce the number of…
Posted in Human Pests
Kentucky Pest News 