Latest Posts

Aug 7, 2019

2018 Cucurbit Genetics Cooperative Annual Report

The Cucurbit Genetics Cooperative (CGC) was established in 1977 to develop and advance the genetics of economically important cucurbits. CucCAP Team members have contributed many articles to the Cucurbit Genetics Cooperative throughout the years. Members of the CucCAP Team contributing to CGC report#41 for 2018 include authors Todd Wehner and Jim McCreight along with editors, Amnon Levi and Linda Wessel-Beaver.

Aug 6, 2019

On Call with Veggie Doc Lina Quesada-Ocampo | NC State

Lina Quesada is a member of the CucCAP Extension Team and an associate professor in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology at NC State University.

Jul 31, 2019

Cucumber Downy Mildew in Western North Carolina | NC State Plant Pathology

Cucumber Downy Mildew (CDM) has been confirmed on cucumber samples in sentinel plots in NC. Leaves showed symptoms typical of CDM: angular, chlorotic or yellow lesions on the upper surface of the leaves with gray to black spores on the underside of the leaf.

Jul 31, 2019

July 31 Michigan Vegetable Updates | MSU Extension Vegetables

Cooperative Extension agents report that vine crop producers need to be aware that downy mildew has been confirmed in Michigan on cucumbers, cantaloupes and watermelons. Downy mildew is easiest to spot in the early morning when leaves are wet from dew. Zucchini and yellow neck squash harvest is underway. Squash bug is present and infesting a few unprotected plantings. Pickling cucumber harvest is beginning. In pumpkins and winter squash, note that in fields with a history of phytophthora, sprays can help protect young fruit before their skin hardens.

Jul 29, 2019

Cucumber downy mildew disease confirmed in research plot in southwest Michigan | MSU Extension Vegetables

Downy mildew on cucumber has developed in a small research plot at the Southwest Research and Extension Center in Benton Harbor, Michigan. This is the first confirmed report in Michigan in 2019.

Jul 27, 2019

Cucurbit Downy Mildew Update | Cornell Cooperative Extension

Up until this week, most of eastern NY was under "low risk" of spores blowing in.  However, the CDM Forecasting System now lists NY at high risk for CDM (especially cucumbers).

Jul 25, 2019

July 24 Michigan Vegetable updates | MSU Extension Vegetables

Cucurbit downy mildew has not been reported in Michigan yet or in the Midwest, but spores were captured back in June.

Jul 24, 2019

Phytophthora crown rot on cucurbits and peppers requires an aggressive approach | MSU Extension Vegetables

This plant pathogen lives in the soil and survives Michigan winters. It does not move via air currents but spreads via splash of contaminated soil, surface water such as culverts, rivers, creeks and streams contaminated by run-off from infested fields, and the dumping of diseased culls onto production fields. Phytophthora is especially unique because it can develop a swimming spore when the soil becomes saturated. The swimming spores move across a field in a pattern consistent with draining water and kills plants in its path.

Jul 23, 2019

Cucumber downy mildew update | MSU Extension Vegetables

Downy mildew on cucumber or any other cucurbit has not been confirmed yet in 2019 in Michigan or in adjacent states of the Great Lakes region. Our molecular analysis of the spore traps has recently confirmed cucumber downy mildew spores in the air via our molecular testing a couple of times, but this has not happened frequently or to the level that might be expected if downy mildew was well established in our production areas.

Jul 22, 2019

New photo gallery: Choanephora fruit rot of summer squash | Cornell Cooperative Extension

This common disease occurs when humidity and temperature are both high. Symptoms usually start to develop at the blossom end of fruit touching the ground. The pathogen is in the soil. Affected tissue develops a wet, soft rot. The pathogen’s growth is distinctive. It looks furry (hairy) and like a lot of pins in a pin cushion. Blossoms and leaves can also be affected. There are no known ways to manage this disease.