Potential for Cucurbit Downey Mildew — August 7, 2024
The remnants of hurricane Debby coming up the coast later this week is passing over areas with reported infections of Downy Mildew and therefore may bring the disease with it. Downy mildew was reported on cantaloupe in western Massachusetts earlier this week. Cucurbit Downey Mildew (CDM) was also reported in PA and eastern NY in the past two weeks.
The strain identified primarily infects cucumber and cantaloupes. Producers of these crops should consider applying protectant fungicides for CDM prior to any future storms. These are listed in the New England Vegetable Management Guide – go to the crops tab and select the appropriate cucurbit crop(s).
Monitor your crops, and keep an eye out for symptoms of DM. Excellent photos of symptoms, and more information about this disease, can be found here: https://www.vegetables.cornell.edu/pest-management/disease-factsheets/downy-mildew-of-cucurbits/. If you suspect you have DM infections, please take photos and send them to your local extension specialist or to the UMaine Plant Diagnostic Lab https://extension.umaine.edu/ipm/plant-disease/plant-disease-diagnostic-testing/. We will be scouting our cucurbits over the next two weeks looking for the disease.
Mark Hutton, Ph.D.
(He/Him/His)
Vegetable Specialist
University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Assoc. Professor Vegetable Crops
Highmoor Farm, P.O. Box 179
Monmouth, ME 04259-0179
207-933-2100
In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability physical or mental, genetic information, or veterans or military status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 101 Boudreau Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5754, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).