THESE REPORTS ARE BASED ON INPUT FROM SEVERAL NORTHEAST STATES INCLUDING NEW ENGLAND AND NEW YORK. YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE WELCOME TO MAKE THIS REPORT MORE SPECIFIC TO CONNECTICUT AND TO SHARE INFO FROM OUR STATE WITH OTHER GROWERS IN THE WHOLE REGION. PEST AND DISEASE OBSERVATIONS (AND PHOTOS ARE GREAT) CAN BE SUBMITTED TO JOAN ALLEN AT joan.allen@uconn.edu. GOOD INFO TO INCLUDE: CROP (INCLUDING CULTIVAR IF KNOWN), PREVALENCE/SEVERITY OF THE PROBLEM, CONTROL STRATEGIES USED, YOUR COUNTY.

Allium: Allium Leafminer: This pest, previously confirmed only in a high tunnel on onion, has now been found in the field in Berkshire Co. MA. At this location, larvae are now migrating toward the bulb to pupate so if you suspect leafminer based on oviposition sites and damage symptoms but find no larvae, dissect a plant or two to look for the pupae lower on the plants. Pupae shown below from pest alert at link from Penn State.

Leek Moth: More damage from this pest is being seen in northern NY State, particularly on allium tips. Embellisia Skin Blotch of garlic: This disease was reported on shanks of garlic necks in RI. It’s been common in NH over the last 2-3 years. Symptoms can look like N deficiency in the field (yellowing or pale leaves). It’s typically considered a storage disease. Onion Thrips: Nymphs and adults were detected in field onions in Washington Co., RI, in overwintered onions in Washington Co., NY and in Hampshire Co., MA leeks.

Brassica: Flea Beetle Flea beetles exceeded a 10% threshold on brassicas in New Haven Co., CT. Direct seeded greens and radishes are being hardest hit. Widespread damage in MA and in the Burlington, VT area.

Vegetable

Pest & Disease Update June 8, 2018

Imported Cabbageworm was observed in Hampshire Co., MA. and Colombia Co., NY (low levels in both places), and in Washington and Kent Cos., RI. This caterpillar can have 3-4 generations per year so can affect brassica crops throughout the season. The fact sheet at the link describes the differences between this and the other caterpillars that attack brassicas.

Beets/Spinach/Chard: Leafminer: Damage is widespread throughout the region.

Yellowing and distorted younger leaves of beets. These symptoms were observed on beets in NH. One

possible cause is boron deficiency.

Ramularia Leaf Spot of Swiss chard was observed in ME. Symptoms include brown, necrotic leaf spots as

shown below.

http://mtvernon.wsu.edu/path_team/swisschard.htm (link to more info and photo credit)

Cucurbits: Striped Cucumber Beetle Found below threshold in Middlesex Co., MA but it was a rainy day (1 per plant). 3-5 per plant were found at the end of last week in Hillsborough Co., NH. Squash Vine Borer: No trap catches yet in either MA or NH. Trapping is recommended through October 1st for a possible 2nd generation. Angular Leaf Spot: A likely case of this bacterial disease was found in butternut squash transplants. It may be seed borne. Edge browning and downward puckering of leaves was observed on greenhouse plants. Cause was not determined but a likely suspect is calcium deficiency.

Photo: K. Campbell, UMass

Lettuce:

Leafminer damage was observed on lettuce in NH.

Downy Mildew was confirmed on Romaine in northern NY.

Solanaceae

Leaf Mold: Reported on greenhouse cherry tomatoes, New Haven Co., CT. This disease is most often problematic in the warm, humid greenhouse environment. Yellow leaf spots on the upper leaf surface are associated with a green-brown velvety looking sporulation of the causal fungus on the lower surface.

Cornell University photos.

Verticillium on Eggplant: Reported in Washington Co., RI on ‘Nadia’ variety. Rhizoctonia Stem Rot: This was found on pepper seedlings in the field and the suspected source was transplant trays in RI. Sclerotinia White Mold: This disease was observed in VT last week and Hampshire Co., MA this week on brassica and tomato. Contans and DoubleNickel have been reported to be effective biocontrol options in some cases. Avoid moving soil contaminated with the pathogen to new areas on tools, footwear, equipment. Signs include white fungal growth and black sclerotia associated with infected tissue.

White mold of tomato. Cornell University photos. Pith Necrosis was reported on greenhouse tomato in RI. In this site, it occurs around the same time every year. Favored by rapid growth induced by high N.

Sweet Corn:

European Corn Borer: Trap counts of the NY strain are going up in NH. Only one trap was found with the IA strain. There were 12 traps with 5-45 moths each. Two fields with the highest numbers are where corn was not chopped up after harvest last year, promoting overwintering of the pest. Corn Earworm: Put traps out for these when there is silk. Fall Armyworm: No reported catches yet.

Hops:

Downy Mildew is widespread and very destructive in RI.

Hops experienced cold temperature damage in ME during the past week.

JOIN THE BRASSICA PEST COLLABORATIVE!!!

What is it?

A NE-SARE-funded project conducted by UMass, UNH, UConn, and Cornell Cooperative

Extension of Suffolk County bringing together Extension educators, researchers and

growers who are dedicated to finding and sharing new ways to combat brassica pests.

A coordinated new approach to outreach and education focused on managing perennial

insect pests. An Extensive research program focusing on ecological, multi-faceted, cost effective

control strategies.

Our goals

Increase farm revenue by reducing crop damage and increasing marketable yield as growers adopt

effective, ecological pest management practices. Increase understanding of pest biology and confidence in

implementing best management practices and getting control of brassica insect pests.

What does it include?

• Website: A clearinghouse of information on pest biology, scouting, management, record keeping

• Short videos and online workshops: Short, pest-specific videos and presentations to dig deeper on the

most troublesome pests and learn new, effective management tactics

• Email forum: Regional, timely discussions among Extension educators, researchers and interested

brassica growers including pest alerts, observations, questions, and research updates

• Facebook Group: Open to commercial growers and educators in the Northeast to share and discuss

relevant pest alerts, observations, research findings, useful resources

• Field days: Come out to see our extensive research program on brassica pest management. Field days

will be hosted in NY, CT, MA, and NH to showcase and see demonstration plots

• Grower Collaborators: Work with the research team to implement a new pest control strategy on your

farm and share your results like an on-farm trial—contribute to a regional effort to understand the cost

efficiency of various practices

How to get involved?

• Send us your questions! We will use them to prioritize topics for making videos and other resources, just

follow this link: http://bit.ly/growerneeds

• Sign up for the email forum: http://bit.ly/bpcforum

• Use the resources on our website here: http://bit.ly/brassicapestcollaborative

• Become a grower collaborator: email brassicapest@umass.edu

Please include farm name, brassica acreage, and crop-pest-control strategy of interest

This material is based upon work supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture,

through the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under subaward number LNE18- 365.