Table 1. Summary of Cultural Management Strategies for Disease

Table 1: This table describes several diseases, listed by crop. The list is not exhaustive, but represents diseases of importance in the midwest. Also listed are the cultural management options available for each disease. The management options are described in more detail in the text. Note that some pathogens have races. The reaction of a particular race of fungus or bacterium will depend on the cultivar or variety grown. Rotation refers to the number of years that the field should be planted to a different crop.

Crop

Disease

Tillage*

Seedborne

Rotation in years

Resistance

Comments

Cabbage

Alternaria leaf spot

3

Yes

3-4

No

Black Rot

3

Yes

2-3

Partial

Yellows

2

Yes

>6

Yes

Fusarium fungus is soilborne

Carrot

Bacterial Blight

3

Yes

2-3

No

Alt. Leaf Blight

3

Yes

2

Yes

Cucumber

Angular Leaf Spot

3

Yes

2

Yes

Anthracnose

3

Yes

NE**

Yes

Bacterial Wilt

1

No

3

No

Spread by cucumber beetles

Scab

3

Yes

2

Yes

Favored by cool (70⁰F), wet weather

Muskmelon

Alt. Leaf Blight

3

No

2

No

Anthracnose

3

Yes

NE**

No

Bacterial Wilt

1

No

3

No

Spread by cucumber beetles

Gummy Stem Blight

3

Yes

3

No

Also affects pumpkin, watermelon

Powdery Mildew

2

No

2

Yes

Root Knot

2

No

>6

No

Wide host range

Pepper

TMV

1

No

2

Yes

Mechanical transmission

PVY

1

No

2

Yes

Aphid transmission (reflective mulch)

TEV

1

No

2

Yes

Aphid transmission (reflective mulch)

Phytophthora

2

Yes

3

Yes

Races

Bacterial Spot

3

Yes

2

Yes

Races

Potato

Early Blight

3

No

3-4

Partial

More disease on early maturing cultivars

Late Blight

3

Yes

2-3

Partial

Survives on cull piles and volunteers

Pumpkin

Virus Diseases

(several)

1

No

NE**

No

Aphids spread virus. All cucurbits affected. Pumpkins planted by June 20 (Southern Indiana) set fruit before disease becomes severe.

Black Rot

3

Yes

2

No

Same as GSB on muskmelon, watermelon

Powdery Mildew

2

No

2

Partial

Bacterial Fruit Spot

3

Yes

2

No

Also affects squash

Snap Bean

Rhizoctonia Root Rot

3

No

NE**

No

Deep plow residue

Sweet Corn

Stewart's wilt

1

Yes

NE**

Partial

Spreads & survives in flea beetles

Tomato

Early Blight

3

No

3-4

Partial

Some resistance to stem canker

Septoria

3

No

2-3

No

Fusarium Crown Rot

2

No

>6

No

Bacterial Spot

3

Yes

2-3

No

Speck

3

Yes

2

Yes

Canker

3

Yes

3-4

No

Verticillium

2

No

>6

Yes

TMV

1

No

2

Yes

Can be spread by contact

Fusarium Wilt

2

Yes

>6

Yes

3 races exist

Root Knot

2

No

>6

Yes

Wide host range

Anthracnose

3

Yes

2-3

Partial

Stake and Mulch

Vegetables (all)

Damping-off

1

No

NE**

No

Warm soils; greenhouse sanitation

Watermelon

Anthracnose

3

Yes

3

No

Gummy Stem Blight

3

Yes

3

No

Also affects muskmelon, pumpkin, and squash

Root Knot

2

No

>6

No

Wide host range

Fusarium Wilt

2

Yes

>6

Partial

3 races exist

Bacterial Fruit Blotch

3

Yes

2

No

Volunteer watermelon and cucurbit weeds can spread disease next season

Broadleaf Vegetables

Sclerotinia

2

No

w/grasses 3-4

No

Flood

23-45 days

*1 = tillage has limited effect; 2 = tillage is of moderate importance; 3 = tillage is an important tool

**NE - Not Effective

Data compiled by Dan Egel.