Management of Fusarium Wilt of Cucurbits with Vetch Cover Cropping and Grafted Transplants

Management of Fusarium Wilt of Cucurbits with Vetch Cover Cropping and Grafted Transplants

Summary

Fresh market farm fields of cucumbers, melons and winter squash, as well as fields of Golden Delicious squash grown for confectionary seed, were scouted by project staff for diseases and disorders. One field of Golden Delicious was diagnosed with Phytophthora fruit and crown rot (Phytophthora capsici). A wilt of cantaloupe was diagnosed as Fusarium wilt of cantaloupe. The causes of the wilts of Golden Delicious squash and cucumber are still under investigation (historic diagnoses of Fusarium wilt of cucumber and other cucurbits are no longer considered accurate).

Farmers storing winter squash into the fall and winter were asked to submit samples of diseased fruits for diagnosis. Fruits of diverse winter squash cultivars were diagnosed with Fusarium fruit rots (causal agents Fusarium spp), black rot (causal agent Phoma cucurbitacearum), gray mold (causal agent Botrytis cinerea) and white mold (causal agent Sclerotinia sclerotiorum).

Thus far, farmers have received diagnoses on many of the diseases found on fresh market and processing cucurbit farms. In the last year of the project, farmers will participate in workshops in which they will discuss potential management strategies for production and storage diseases. The project will continue it efforts to diagnose the wilts of Golden Delicious and cucumber. Information on the diagnosis and management of all diseases will be disseminated through articles published to oregonvegetables.com. In winter 2014-15, an online survey will be sent to all farmers who sent in samples, allowed field scouting or participated in winter meetings to determine how their knowledge of cucurbit field and storage diseases/problems and their future management intentions had changed as the result of their participation in the project. Management of these diseases will increase crop quality and farm profitability.

Objectives/Performance Targets

Objective 1) Scout for and diagnose cucurbit diseases and disorders occurring on farms in the Willamette Valley.

Objective 2) Engage farmers in learning about the diagnosis and management of cucurbit diseases and disorders.

Objective 3) Disseminate project results to a wider audience of farmers and agricultural professionals.

Objective 4) Evaluate impact of project activites on farmer knowledge and intentions

Accomplishments/Milestones

In summers of 2012 and 2013, fresh market farm fields of cucumbers, melons and winter squash, as well as fields of Golden Delicious squash grown for confectionary seed, were scouted by project staff for diseases and disorders. One field of Golden Delicious was diagnosed with Phytophthora fruit and crown rot (Phytophthora capsici). A wilt of cantaloupe was diagnosed as Fusarium wilt of cantaloupe. The causes of the wilts of Golden Delicious squash and cucumber are still under investigation (historic diagnoses of Fusarium wilt of cucumber and other cucurbits are no longer considered accurate).

In addition, in winters 2012-13 and 2013-2014, farmers storing winter squash into the fall and winter were asked to submit samples of diseased fruits for diagnosis. Fruits of diverse winter squash cultivars were diagnosed with Fusarium fruit rots (causal agents Fusarium spp), black rot (causal agent Phoma cucurbitacearum), gray mold (causal agent Botrytis cinerea) and white mold (causal agent Sclerotinia sclerotiorum).

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Thus far, farmers have received diagnoses on many of the diseases found on fresh market and processing cucurbit farms. In the last year of the project farmers will participate in workshops in which they will discuss potential management strategies for production and storage diseases. The project will continue it efforts to diagnose the wilts of Golden Delicious and cucumber. Information on the diagnosis and management of all diseases will be disseminated through articles published to oregonvegetables.com. In winter 2014-15, an online survey will be sent to all farmers who sent in samples, allowed field scouting or participated in winter meetings to determine how their knowledge of cucurbit field and storage diseases/problems and their future management intentions had changed as the result of their participation in the project. Management of these diseases will increase crop quality and farm profitability.

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