There have been reports of cutworm activity in field crops this spring. Cutworms (Figure 1), combined with slow plant growth due to cool weather, have the potential to result in increased damage to seedlings in some fields. Corn and soybean…
Blog Archives
Powdery Mildew of Hemp
Powdery mildew can affect numerous plants, including fruit, vegetable, and agronomic crops, as well as woody and herbaceous ornamentals. Kentucky hemp is also susceptible to this disease. Plants infected early in the season can be seriously damaged, while those affected…
Posted in Hemp
Predicting Future Cucurbit Crop Disease Risk Using Disease History
Past disease presence can indicate a risk for the same disease this year. Many pathogens overwinter on infected plant material or as pathogen survival structures. Poor sanitation practices can lead to an increased risk of these diseases in the upcoming…
Posted in Vegetables
Cherry Leaf Spot
Cherry leaf spot is a fungal disease of sweet, sour, and ornamental cherries. While this leaf disease is rarely a death sentence for trees, it can result in reduced blossoms, weakened trees, and increased risk for winter injury. Cherry Leaf…
Posted in Fruit, Landscape Trees & Shrubs
Anthracnose Diseases on Shade Trees
The term anthracnose refers to the dark blotching (necrotic) symptom common to these diseases. When expanding leaves are affected, leaf distortion frequently results (Figure 1). Defoliation (leaf drop) often occurs during severe infections. The disease is generally not fatal, and…
Posted in Landscape Trees & Shrubs
Greenhouse Sanitation (PPFS-GH-04)
Diseases are a major concern for greenhouse growers and can be a key limitation to profitable plant production. Often, growers presume that fungicides are the most important disease management tool at their disposal. However, sanitation is extremely important in helping…
Posted in Uncategorized
2021 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
Current Weather Conditions are Suitable for Increase Mollusk Activity in Corn and Soybeans
Current Situation in Field Crops Rainy and cloudy days with soggy and cool nights are favorable for mollusk activity. These conditions describe the current weather in Kentucky, which has been conducive to the damage these organisms are causing to soybean…
Posted in Grains
Predicting Future Solanaceous Crop Disease Risk Using Disease History
Past disease presence can indicate a risk for the same disease this year. Many pathogens overwinter on infected plant material or as pathogen survival structures. Poor sanitation practices can lead to an increased risk of these diseases in the upcoming…
Posted in Vegetables
Cane Blight of Brambles
Cane blight occasionally impacts homegrown and commercial raspberries and blackberries in Kentucky. The disease causes lesions to develop on both primocanes (current-year canes) and floricanes (second-year or fruiting canes) and can result in reduced yield and cane death. Fungicides are…
Posted in Fruit
Cedar-Hawthorn Rust
Cedar-hawthorn rust is a common disease of apple, crabapple, hawthorn, and ornamental pear in Kentucky; it also affects quince, mountain ash, pear, and serviceberry. The pathogen overwinters as galls on its alternate hosts, cedar and juniper. Removal of these galls…
Posted in Fruit, Landscape Trees & Shrubs
Volutella Blight of Boxwood
Volutella blight is the most common disease of boxwood in the landscape. Volutella blight is caused by an opportunistic fungal pathogen that attacks leaves and stems of damaged or stressed plants. Winter injury, poor vigor, and wounds increase risk for…
Posted in Landscape Trees & Shrubs
Royal Bees and Wasps on the Move
Introduction to Stinging Insect Royalty Spring is a time of new beginnings for much of the natural world. This holds true for insects, such as bees and wasps, as well. This week, we have received multiple inquiries on identifying large…
Posted in Household Pests
USDA Clarifies Rules for Buying and Receiving Seeds and Plants from other Countries
Last year, there was quite the uproar as people reported shipments of unsolicited seeds arriving from other countries. This was the subject of an initial newsletter article in July 2020 and a follow up article earlier this year in March.…
Posted in Misc. Topics
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
