Midwest Vegetable Guide - 2022 - 49

Disease Management Strategies
Summary of Cultural Management Strategies for Disease
This table describes several diseases listed by crop. This list is not exhaustive, but represents important Midwest diseases. Also
listed are the cultural management options available for each disease. The management options are described in more detail in
the text. Note that some pathogens have races. The reaction of a particular race of fungus or bacterium will depend on the
cultivar or variety grown. Rotation refers to the number of years that the field should be planted to a different crop.
Crop
Allium garlic,
onion, leek
Disease
Alternaria purple blotch, Botrytis leaf blight
Aster yellows
Botrytis neck rot
Downy mildew
Fusarium basal rot
Smut
White rot
Asparagus
Cercospora leaf spot and rust
Fusarium crown and root rot
Cruciferous
vegetables
Phytophthora crown and spear rot
Alternaria leaf spot
Black leg
Black rot
Club root
Downy mildew
Fusarium yellows
Powdery mildew
Rhizoctonia diseases
Sclerotinia stem rot
White rust
Cucurbits
cantaloupe,
cucumber,
pumpkin,
squash,
watermelon
Alternaria leaf blight
Angular leaf spot
Anthracnose
Bacterial fruit blotch
Bacterial leaf and fruit spot
Bacterial wilt
Downy mildew
Fusarium wilt
Gummy stem blight/black rot
Phytophthora blight
Plectosporium blight
Powdery mildew
Root-knot nematode
Viruses (several)
Tillage1 Seedborne Rotation2 Resistance Comments
3
Yes
1
2
2
1
1
1
NA
NA
NA
3
3
3
NE
3
2
3
3
2
NE
3
3
3
3
3
1
1
1
3
2
3
2
2
1
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
3-4
NE
3
3
4
3
NE
NA
NA
NA
3-4
3-5
2-3
5-7
2-3
>6
3
NE
NE
3
2
2
2
2
3
NE
NE
5-7
3
>4
3-4
2
>6
NE
Midwest Veg Guide 2022
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
No
No
Club root pathogen survives on some
grass, clover, weedy, and other plants,
which influences rotation or cover crop
selection
Resistance in broccoli only
Resistance for Brussels sprout and
cabbage only, avoid over applying
nitrogen and drought
Can form disease complex with black leg
pathogen for stem canker
Very wide host range; rotation for greater
than 3 years into grasses, onions, or corn
may reduce severe infestations
Remove crop debris from area after
harvest
Race 1 affects mainly cucumber. Race 2
affects mainly watermelon
Primarily on pumpkin and winter squash
Spread by cucumber beetles
Resistant varieties of cucumber and
cantaloupe available
Also affects pumpkin and watermelon
Avoid excess water and rotation with
solanaceous crops; good drainage is
important. Treating seeds with
mefenoxam may prevent seedling death.
Primarily on pumpkins; manage like
black rot
Wide host range will affect rotation
choices
Spread by aphids; plant crops before
insect pressure becomes severe
49
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Leave 1/4-mile buffer from previously
infected fields, delay plant until
conditions are dry
Thrips-damaged tissues are more
susceptible
Seed transmission is low, but possible;
transmission from garlic bulb/cloves
occurs
Cure bulbs rapidly and properly and
avoid injury to neck
Resistance in onion only (limited
varieties)
Transmitted on sets and transplants
Do not move Allium spp. into quarantine
areas of the U.S. (Columbia Basin)
Remove or burn down ferns in the late
fall to reduce inoculum
Avoid long harvest periods to maintain
vigor
Midwest Vegetable Guide - 2022

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