Disease Threatens Cucumbers, Pumpkins, and Other Vine Crops

[Brian Edmonds]

PRESS RELEASE 
For immediate release

Contact: Amy Steigman
American Phytopathological Society
E-mail: mailto:asteigman at scisoc.org 
Phone: +1.651.454.7250 / Web: http://www.apsnet.org  /

Disease Threatens Cucumbers, Pumpkins, and Other Vine Crops  

St. Paul, Minn. (April 23, 2004) - Plant pathologists with The American
Phytopathological Society (APS) are reporting a significant increase in
the occurrence of Phytophthora blight of vine crops, including
cucumbers, pumpkins, and squash, in many vegetable-growing regions of
the United States. This devastating disease, caused by a soilborne
pathogen called Phytophthora capsici, often results in nearly total
yield loss.

According to Mohammad Babadoost, a plant pathology professor at the
University of Illinois, Phytophthora blight has become one of the most
serious threats to production of vine crops, or cucurbits, both in the
United States and worldwide. "Recent outbreaks of Phytophthora blight
have threatened pumpkin and other cucurbit industries in Illinois, where
approximately 90 percent of processing pumpkins produced in the U.S. are
grown," said Babadoost. "Because of heavy crop losses, growers often
have to abandon their own farms and move into different areas, sometimes
traveling more than 50 miles, to find fields not infested with
Phytophthora capsici," said Babadoost.

Phytophthora blight can strike cucurbit plants at any stage of
growth. The infection usually appears first in low areas of the fields
where the soil remains wet for longer periods of time. The pathogen
infects seedlings, vines, leaves, and fruit. The disease is usually
associated with heavy rainfall, excessive-irrigation, or poorly drained
soil. Frequent irrigation increases the incidence of the disease.

Currently, there are no cucurbit cultivars with measurable resistance to
Phytophthora blight. Plant pathologists are working to find new methods
of controlling this disease. "In addition to exploring cultural
management strategies, plant pathologists are assessing the
possibilities of using induced resistance in plants, biocontrol agents,
and fungicides for control of this disease in cucurbits and other
crops," said Babadoost.

More on this subject including details on the disease, the pathogen that
causes it, and current control methods can be found in this month's APS
feature article at http://www.apsnet.org/online/feature/cucurbit/. The
American Phytopathological Society (APS) is a non-profit, professional
scientific organization dedicated to the study and management of plant
disease with 5,000 members worldwide.