Controlling Powdery Mildew of Pumpkin Using Pre-existing Fungicide Scheduling Programs
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Project Leader: Tyrone W. Hall
Extension Resource Educator, Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Specialist SCNYAG, Cornell Cooperative Extension Ð Tioga County, 56 Main Street, Owego, NY 13827, Phone: (607) 687-4020 Fax: (607) 687-3619, twh22@cornell.edu
Cooperators:
Margaret Tuttle McGrath, Department of Plant Pathology, Cornell University, Long Island Horticultural Research & Extension Center, 3059 Sound Avenue, Riverhead, NY 11901-1098, 631-727-3595 Fax: 631-727-3611
Walter Mahaffee, Research Plant Pathologist, 3420 NW Orchard Ave, Corvallis, OR 97330, 541-738-4036 Fax: 541-738-4025, mahaffew@science.oregonstate.edu
Doug Gubler, Department of Plant Pathology, One Shields Ave., University of California, Davis, CA 95616, 530-752-0304 Fax: 530-752-5674, wdgubler@ucdavis.edu
Type of grant: Monitoring, forecasting, and economic thresholds
Project locations: Tioga County, South Central NY
Initial Model Test Data: Long Island, NY
Abstract:
Powdery mildew is a serious disease of pumpkin throughout the Northeastern United States. Control of pumpkin powdery mildew is currently achieved through the use of a calendar-based application of fungicides. Three non-pumpkin weather-based fungicide scheduling programs for powdery mildew were evaluated to determine their usefulness in the control of cucurbit powdery mildew using fewer appropriately timed fungicide applications. None of the weather-based fungicide scheduling programs provided a benefit in fungicide scheduling compared to the calendar-based fungicide application scheduling when evaluated with historical weather and disease initiation data. The weather-based fungicide scheduling programs function primarily by determining conditions that are not suitable for the proliferation of powdery mildew. New York State experiences favorable conditions for the growth of powdery mildew throughout the cucurbit growing season in most years, therefore reducing the utility of the weather-based fungicide scheduling programs in this region.