Aug 21, 2019
Downy mildew on cucumber has been verified in three counties on the west side of Michigan and one county on the east side of Michigan. Cantaloupe crops are also at risk.
Jul 29, 2019
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 24, 2019
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
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 8, 2019
The Hausbeck vegetable pathology lab at Michigan State University has established a network of spore traps in major cucumber production areas of their state. This year, they have the ability to distinguish the spores of cucumber downy mildew from the spores of hop downy mildew.
Jun 26, 2019
Cloudy, humid and wet weather are perfect conditions for downy mildew. These conditions also favor the transport of downy mildew sporangia into our Michigan growing areas.
May 9, 2019
Michigan State Vegetable Pathology recently published the article: Broad-spectrum fungicides for vegetables with a table of fungicide recommendations for vegetables including cucumbers, melons, pumpkins and squash.
May 1, 2019
Benjamin Phillips from Michigan State University Extension and Mary Hausbeck from MSU Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences recently published recommendations for broad-spectrum fungicide options available for use on multiple vegetable crops including cucurbits.
Apr 10, 2019
The Hausbeck Plant Pathology Research Lab presented a poster titled Diagnosing and Managing Phytophthora on Squash at the 2019 Empire State Producers EXPO held January 15 - 19, 2019.
Mar 16, 2019
PDMR, Volume 13, 2019. Results of 2017 & 2018 field trials, Published in 2019. Plant Disease Management reports for cucumber, melon, pumpkin, and watermelon.