Tobamoviruses, including tobacco mosaic virus, cucumber green mottle mosaic virus, tomato mosaic virus, and tomato brown rugose fruit virus, are threats to greenhouse vegetable and tobacco production. Here are some quick facts about tobamoviruses: Most can be seed-transmitted. Typical seed…

Over the past several days, Extension specialists have been contacted by tobacco growers from several regions across Kentucky about spotting and yellowing symptoms of tobacco leaves (Figures 1, 2, 3). These contacts have been made in regard to field plantings…

Some tobacco transplant buyers have indicated that they will no longer permit any acephate applications to tobacco that they intend to purchase under contract. Acephate, sold as Orthene and under other generic brand names, is an older organophosphate insecticide and…

In 2018, several tobacco crops were severely affected by bacterial stalk rot and leaf drop. This disease does not frequently occur in Kentucky tobacco, but it can result in over 50% leaf loss in the span of only a few…

Now that most tobacco trays have been seeded, some reminders on minimizing disease as seedlings size up for transplanting. Pythium Root Rot The most common disease occurring in float bed plants, Pythium root rot is managed with a combination of…

Flea Beetles Tobacco flea beetles (Figure 1) usually are a common problem right after tobacco is transplanted. Overwintered adults fly into fields to feed before laying eggs around the base of newly-set tobacco and other solanaceous plants. Flea beetle larvae…

While 2015 was a light to moderate year for black shank of tobacco, 2016 is proving to be much more challenging. Black shank can be the most yield-limiting disease of tobacco, and once a field is infested with the pathogen,…

In our research plots and in grower fields, we are beginning to see target spot and frogeye pressure. Target spot is caused by Thanatephorus cucumeris (more commonly known as Rhizoctonia solani) and frogeye is caused by Cercospora nicotianae. These are…

Tobacco blue mold has now been identified in southern Virginia as well as Pennsylvania; this is an additional range expansion over last week’s identification in eastern Tennessee. Dr. Chuck Johnson, plant pathologist specializing in tobacco in Virginia, reports that the…

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. Diseases diagnosed on agronomic crops during the past week have included brown spot on soybean;…

Tobacco blue mold was identified late last week in Greene County in eastern Tennessee. All tobacco growers in Kentucky, along with Extension agents in tobacco production counties, are once again encouraged to scout for blue mold. By taking appropriate fungicide…

Blue mold of tobacco was found last week in Caswell County, located in central North Carolina. This is further north than its previous known locations in Florida and Georgia. The pathogen that causes blue mold is an obligate oomycete, meaning…