July/August 2022 - 10

DISEASE MANAGEMENT
3
Dieback caused by neofusicoccum.
Photos: University of Georgia
isease pressures can vary from season to season
and are dependent on a number of factors,
especially humidity and heat stress. But there are
three that are taking the lead in posing particular risk for
pecan growers in Texas, as well as in other states.
D
Scab
An infection caused by a fungal pathogen, pecan scab is
the primary disease to watch out for in pecan crops. Though
there are varieties that are more susceptible than others, it
remains a top concern.
" It's hands down of the greatest economic importance to
the pecan industry, " said Monte Nebitt, Extension program
specialist at Texas A&M University's Department of
Horticultural Sciences.
The climate must be warm enough and wet enough for
pecan scab to take hold. While wildfires and burn bans can
mean havoc for other agriculture industries, they're actually
DISEASE
THREATS
in Texas pecan
Every season is different,
but these three keep
growers on alert
BY JULIA DEBENEDICTIS
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
favorable for pecan growers because they indicate the land
is very dry.
2021 had abnormally high rates of scab, but 2022 hasn't
yet seen much of a problem.
" The more rainy days an orchard experiences, the
greater potential there is for damage, " said Nesbitt. " Scab
is of enough economic importance that it requires certain
control efforts. "
University of Georgia (UGA) is currently the best source
of recommendations for scab control. According to the
2022 Spray Guide published by UGA Extension, orchards
with any amount of scab by mid-June should adopt rigorous
control efforts, including shortening the interval between
fungicide sprays to 14, 10 or seven days based on the
kind of growth identified on the plants and the weather
conditions in the orchards. At the start of August, Extension
recommends that growers monitor for shell hardening and
adjust their spraying accordingly.
10 JULY/AUGUST 2022
July/August 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of July/August 2022
