Disease Update

Published: August 1, 2010

As part of the mini clinics we have been pulling some samples that we are unsure of, or find of interest, and having them confirmed at a diagnostic lab. I’ll review those results, but first:

• Late blight of tomato and potato has continued moving westward, but is still safely away from Missouri. It has been confirmed in Michigan, Eastern Indiana, Ohio & Kentucky.

From Southwest Missouri in late June two samples were submitted:

• Southern Blight on tomatoes has been confirmed. This is not a common disease in the Midwest, but tends to occur with hot humid weather and damp conditions. There is no fungicide treatment for this.
• Anthracnose fruit rot (ripe rot) was found in a high tunnel, that also had Early Blight.

From the Clark area in early July:

• Fusarium stem rot was confirmed on bell peppers. Wet conditions and high humidity aggravate the disease. No fungicide treatment available.
• Bacterial speck on tomato fruit, but where the foliage had no apparent infection.