How to Fight Cucurbit Scab

By Erin Marissa Russell

The plant disease cucurbit blackleg is because of the Cladosporium cucumerinum fungus , and it affectscucumbers , melon vine , pumpkins , summertime squash , watermelon , winter squeeze , andzucchini . All portions of these plants that get above the ground can be impacted by the disease , but the most pregnant symptom appear on the eatable yield . The disease is at its uncollectible when conditions are groggy , dew is heavy , rainfall is light , and the conditions is cool .

The pathogen that causes cucurbit rat can be seedborne , but it also live on in rubble from infected plant that remains in the soil for up to three years . The fungus can also grow on dead constitutive textile , such as settle trees , dead leaves , cow patty , and even the remains of utter insect or animals . It can circularise via the motion of louse or humans that add up into contact with the fungus , horticulture tools that have extend to infected plants , and even moist air . When temperature are between 59 and 77 degree Fahrenheit ( 15 to 25 degrees Celsius ) , the fungus responsible for cucurbit blackleg is most likely to make spores and spread .

moisture in cucumber garden

How to Identify Cucurbit Scab

Being familiar with the symptoms of cucurbit scab is vital for gardeners who grow susceptible crops so that quick action can be taken if the symptoms appear on their plants . Those who produce vulnerable plant should audit them regularly for the signs of cucurbit scab contagion , which are listed below .

How to Prevent and Treat Cucurbit Scab

Even if your plants have never struggle with cucurbit strikebreaker , prophylactic measures are recommended to check that you do n’t have to combat this disease . An outbreak of cucurbit strikebreaker can drastically shrink crop issue , and for those who trade their garden ’s bounty , the disease can wreak havoc on profits as well as plants . Incorporate as many of the environmental and cultural control measure listed below as you may to help keep cucurbit scab at bay .

Some gardeners choose to use preventive fungicide intervention to help obviate their crop becoming infect with cucurbit blackleg . These sprays are normally applied only when an surface area has a story of infection with cucurbit rat . For antifungal agent to work , they must be used before susceptible plant have develop fruit . For squash plants , fungicide should be applied when plants commence to bloom . melon vine crops and autumn pumpkin should receive fungicide treatment when vine begin to run when fungicide will be used .

Additionally , fungicide treatments may not be efficacious if they are used when the weather is cool and wet for retentive flow . Even if you opt to practice fungicides , we commend employing as many environmental and ethnic control from the listing above as you’re able to to have the maximum potential security against the disease .

watermelon garden with moisture

Cucurbit rat is a serious problem for gardeners who get vulnerable crops . But as you’re able to see , there are plenty of dance step you’re able to take to drastically reduce the risk of infection of your plants becoming infected or to treat the disease if it does come out in your garden . It can be extremely difficult to quetch an combat-ready cucurbit blackleg infection once it has taken hold . There ’s no intellect to wait until you see the symptoms of cucurbit scab to take action — as they say , an troy ounce of bar is deserving a pound of cure .