DISEASE MANAGEMENT OF FRESH-MARKET AND PROCESSING VEGETABLE AND HERB CROPS GROWN IN NEW JERSEY

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: HATCH
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 1012917
• Project Start Date: Jun 21, 2017
• Project End Date: May 31, 2022
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY
3 RUTGERS PLZA
NEW BRUNSWICK,NJ 08901-8559

Performing Department
Plant Biology

Non Technical Summary
Over 100 different vegetable crops are grown annually throughout the state of New Jersey. In 2002, thirty-three thousand acres (representing only the top 17 vegetable crops grown on a per acre basis in the state) of fresh-market vegetables were grown with a farm gate value of over 125 million dollars. Seven thousand acres of processing vegetables are also grown annually for processing plants in New Jersey with an estimated farm gate value of over 6 million dollars. The vegetable crops grown in New Jersey help feed over 60 million Americans who live in the mid-Atlantic and northeastern regions of the United States. Vegetable crops must be grown economically and efficiently in order for New Jersey vegetable growers to compete in the larger US and international marketplace. Growers rely on integrated pest or best management practices which incorporate different production and cultural practices to help control insects, weeds and plant disease. Vegetable disease is the largest limiting factor to successful vegetable production in New Jersey. Without proper disease management strategies, annual losses to vegetable disease would be in the tens of millions of dollars annually. Therefore, integrated disease management strategies for vegetable crops must be continually evaluated and developed in order to help reduce potential losses to disease and to allow New Jersey vegetable growers to produce crops efficiently and economically.Fungicide applications are necessary for the proper control of many important diseases in vegetable crop production in New Jersey. Without their use, it would not be economically feasible to grow many vegetable crops in the state. For example, without fungicide applications for powdery mildew control it would not be economically feasible to produce the over 6,000 A of cucurbit crops grown annually for fresh-, commercial wholesale, or roadside markets in New Jersey. Powdery mildew and downy mildew are the most destructive diseases of pumpkin and other cucurbit crops in the United States. Fungicide applications (and in some cases host resistance) are the principle practices followed by most farmers for managing powdery mildew and downy mildew. In recent year's new fungicide chemistries have been introduced for the control of both diseases. These new chemistries, although highly effective at controlling the pathogens, have a high risk for the development of resistance by the pathogen. Powdery-mildew resistance to FRAC [Fungicide Resistance Action Committee] code 11 fungicides (i.e., strobilurins) as well as FRAC code 3 fungicides (i.e., triazoles) has been reported in the US and other countries. Additionally, fungicide resistance in cucurbit downy mildew (as well as basil downy mildew) has also been reported in newer fungicides labeled for their control in recent years. Such that control of these diseases with some fungicide chemistries has been greatly reduced suggesting that i) fungicide resistant pathogen populations are being introduced to the state from an outside source or ii) growers in New Jersey, through their current fungicide application programs, are allowing resistance to develop in their production fields. Importantly, once these pathogens develop resistance to these fungicides they may no longer effective in controlling the disease and any additional applications will no longer be effective. Determining which fungicide chemistries are effective and which are no longer effective against these diseases helps vegetable growers i) produce crops more economically; ii) eliminates unnecessary fungicide applications and help reduce potential environmental impacts; and iii) reduce the potential for fungicide resistance development.New Jersey is the third highest producer of fresh-market bell and non-bell peppers in the United States. Over 5,000 acres with an estimated value of over 30 million dollars are grown annually in the State. One of the most destructive soil-borne diseases of solanaceous (i.e., pepper, tomato, and eggplant) and cucurbit (i.e. pumpkin and summer squash) crops is phytophthora blight (Phytophthora capsici). In the US, losses to phytophthora blight exceed 100s of millions of dollars annually. The pathogen is one of the largest limiting factors in pepper and cucurbit production in New Jersey and in many other pepper and cucurbit production areas of the United States. In recent years phytophthora-tolerant bell pepper cultivars have been introduced to the market. Without the use of these cultivars, annual losses to phytophthora blight could be as high as 100% in some production areas of New Jersey. Since 1997, two commercial pepper cultivars with resistance or tolerance to phytophthora blight have been used extensively in New Jersey. These two cultivars in the past have represented over 40% of the bell pepper production acreage in New Jersey. Since their introduction to the market over a decade ago, their use is estimated to have saved over tens of million dollars in losses to phytophthora blight. In addition, in recent years, another important pathogen, bacterial leaf spot has become an increasing problem along with phytophthora blight in pepper production in New Jersey. Bacterial leaf spot, caused by Xanthomonas euvesicatoria, is now known to have up to 10 races which up until recently have only been found in the Southeastern US. In 2004, only 3 races (1, 2, 3) were present in New Jersey. Since that time, races 4, 5, 6, and 10 have been putatively identified in the State. Importantly, some of the most widely grown bell and non-bell peppers lack resistance packages that cover the current races of the pathogen in the State exposing growers to significant losses should an outbreak of bacterial leaf spot occur. In the past few years, new phytophtora-resistant bell peppers with resistance to all 10 races have been introduced for use in the southern US, however, these peppers haven't been evaluated for use in New Jersey for fresh-markets in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions. In 2007, a new disease of basil, downy mildew caused by Peronospora belbahrii, was introduced into the US. Since then, significant losses have occurred in conventional and organic basil production throughout the US. Over 10,000 acres of sweet basil are grown each year in the US and 100% of these acres are at-risk to downy mildew because of the lack of genetic resistance in the crop and the limited number of fungicides available for use to help control the pathogen. Recently, fungicide resistance in P. belbahrii to mefenoxam has been reported in Europe. In order for basils of all types to be successfully grown in New Jersey, proper fungicide applications along with introduction and use of host resistance must become available to growers in the state.

Animal Health Component

100%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

(N/A)

Applied

100%

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
212	5220	1160	100%

Knowledge Area
212 - Pathogens and Nematodes Affecting Plants;

Subject Of Investigation
5220 - Pesticides;

Field Of Science
1160 - Pathology;

Keywords

fungicide resistance

cucurbit powdery mildew

downy mildew

basil

bell peppers

vegetable crop production

Goals / Objectives
The purpose of this research is to develop and implement integrated disease management strategies for the control of important vegetable diseases in New Jersey utilizing fungicide resistance management strategies along the use of disease resistant/tolerant vegetable cultivars and other best management practices. This research will help support the mission of the NJAES by helping to enhance the vitality, health, sustainability and overall quality of life of people in New Jersey by developing and delivering practical, effective solutions to current and future challenges in agriculture and its impacts on the environment; public health; the economy, and rural communities. The research results and projects described below are part of a broad spectrum research program.

Project Methods
Objective 1: Evaluation of fungicide chemistries, fungicide application schedules, and fungicide resistant development in populations of economically-important diseases of vegetable crops in New Jersey.Cucurbit powdery mildew caused by Podosphaera xanthii or Golovinomyces chicoracearum, and cucurbit downy mildew caused by Pseudoperonospora cubensis, are economically-important diseases of cucurbit crops in the U.S. Fungicide resistance to widely-applied high-risk fungicides have been detected in recent years.A small percentage of the cucurbit powdery mildew population sampled in NJ in 2010 was determined to be resistant to FRAC code 11 fungicides. This suggests that cucurbit powdery mildew may come into the mid-Atlantic region resistant to a very important class of fungicides greatly affecting its control and control recommendations in our region. Therefore, the ability to detect and monitor for resistance development in cucurbit powdery and downy mildew (and basil downy mildew) is critically important to understanding how to appropriately control these pathogens in our region. In recent years, vegetable pathologists throughout the east coast established monitoring programs for cucurbit powdery and downy mildew as well as basil downy mildew. The goal of these programs is to track, monitor and predict potential outbreaks of both pathogens at the local level and report these findings to central databases.Continued development of fungicide resistance management guidelines and FRAC tables for specific crops in the mid-Atlantic region.FRAC tables for the 30 crop groups listed in the Commercial Vegetable Productions Recommendations Guide for the mid-Atlantic region will updated on an annual basis. Each table consists of all fungicides recommended for a particular crop (or crop group) in the recommendations guide along with FRAC and risk management codes, diseases for that particular crop or crop group and fungicide resistance management guidelines for each particular FRAC code. Fungicide, chemical names, FRAC codes and risk management guidelines are color-coordinated by group to help distinguish differences based on FRAC code. The guide also includes inherent resistance risks for the particular pathogens listed in each crop section. Like the fungicides listed, the pathogen-risk will be denoted by L, M, or H designations in accordance for the potential of a particular pathogen developing resistance to certain fungicide chemistries. Most importantly, where a pathogen has a high risk for resistance development and a fungicide chemistry has a high potential for resistance to develop to it, the designated x's will be colored red to highlight the fact that particular combination has a very-high risk for resistance development. The far right-hand column of each table includes fungicide resistance management guidelines for each particular FRAC code with specific instructions on risk assessment and/or application instructions. This simple-to-use reference guide and method for keeping track of FRAC codes will help growers i) learn the importance of FRAC codes, ii) apply different fungicide chemistries appropriately, iii) reduce the potential for fungicide resistance development and iv) reduce the potential for economic losses due to fungicide resistance development. In addition to the hardcopy format the new guide will be made available on-line through state extension websites.The fungicide resistance management reference guide is now in its 11th edition (2017) and is available to download or print for free online. The guide will be freely available to distribute freely to vegetable growers in the mid-Atlantic region (NJ, DE, MD, PA and VA) during the production season and be used as a promotional tool for twilight meetings, field days and on-farm tours. During these meetings, collaborators from each state will promote the use of the fungicide resistance management reference guide. Each collaborator will help to i) explain the importance of learning and knowing how to use FRAC codes ii) help explain the FRAC tables and resistance management guidelines and iii) answer any related questions related to the resistance management reference guide from vegetable growers. Between the cooperators and the number of twilight tours, field days and regional meetings given each year in each state it is estimated that between 1,500 and 2,000 vegetable growers from the region learn the importance of and know how to implement FRAC groups in fungicide resistance management decisions each year. Fungicide resistant management guidelines will continue to be developed and distributed on an annual basis for vegetable growers, extension personnel, crop advisors and consultants in the mid-Atlantic and surrounding region on an annual basis. New fungicide resistance management table for specific crops and/or commodities will also be developed in a similar format on an as needed basis as the need arises.Objective 2: Evaluating vegetable cultivars for resistance to economically-important diseases in the mid-Atlantic region.Each year seed of bell pepper varieties with potential resistance or tolerance to the crown rot phase of phytophthora blight (P. capsici) will be obtained from different seed companies to run replicated trials at RAREC near Bridgeton, NJ. Seedlings started in the greenhouse at RAREC will be transplanted in a complete randomized block design (4 replications) in a field which has been used to evaluate bell pepper varieties for over 25 years. Peppers will be grown according to standard production practices. Weekly disease evaluations for phytophthora development will occur from 1 week after transplanting until final harvest in the fall. The number of infected (i.e. killed) plants, as well as, data on yield and fruit characteristics (i.e. 'silvering') will be collected during the production season. Data from trials will be statistically analyzed and results will be presented to seed companies, industry representatives and pepper growers at regional meetings. The relationship between phytophthora-resistance and the development of skin separation or 'silvering' in fruit will continue to be explored.At the Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center (RAREC) near Bridgeton, New Jersey, different basil species, cultivars, and/or advanced breeding lines will be evaluated for susceptibility to basil downy mildew. All basil plants will be rated for downy mildew infection using an ordered categorical scale where 0.0 equals no visible symptoms (i.e. chlorosis) or downy mildew sporulation, 1.0 equals symptoms of downy mildew (i.e. chlorosis) and light sporulation, 2.0 equals chlorosis and heavy downy mildew sporulation, or 3.0 equals chlorosis and heavy, dense downy sporulation on the abaxial surface of leaves. Data from trials will be statistically analyzed and results will be presented to seed companies, industry representatives and pepper growers at regional meetings.In coordination with breeding line and cultivar evaluations, fungicide trials will be done to evaluate the efficacy of efficacy of specific fungicides and/or fungicide programs with an emphasis on resistance management in different vegetable crops such as cucurbits, pepper, and basil. Identifying resistance to important pathogens in cultivars of locally- and regionally-grown vegetable crops is economically important to the vegetable industry in the state and region. In some cases, resistance is the only means for reducing losses in some crops where few, or no fungicides are labeled for controlling important pathogens. Identifying resistance cultivars and the evaluation of new fungicide chemistries and fungicide programs for the control of important pathogens in vegetable crop production will be done on an annual basis.

Progress 10/01/19 to 09/30/20

Outputs
Target Audience:Vegetable growers, Extension personnel, Industry representatives. Changes/Problems:Because of covid-19 and the restrictions put in place by the University, all of our field research was put on hold during the summer of 2020. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The information developed by this research program wasdisseminated at a number of local and regional Extension meetings prior to Covid-19 closuresin the spring of 2020. Afterwards, this information was disseminated to stakeholders on virtuals meetings held with Zoom or Webex. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Depending on theUniversity's covid-19 restrictions going forward we will focus our efforts around the policies that allow us to do research.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The evaluation of the efficacy of a number of fungicides for controlling important diseases in crops such as basil, pepper, and cucurbit were done with these results being distributed to industry stakeholders at local and regional meetings. Fungicides for the control of cucurbit downy and powdery mildew were monitored for resistance development. Bell pepper cultivars were evaluated for their resistance to Phytophthora blight (Phytophthora capsici) and bacterial leaf spot (Xanthomonas ssp.), two economically important pathogens of pepper in the state. A survey was initiated to discover whichspecies of Xanthomonas are endemic to NJ vegetable farms, particularily those farms who grow tomatoes and peppers each year. Additionally, a survey for copper resistance in these isolates of Xanthomonas was initiated.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Li, Y., Heckman, J., Wyenandt, A., Mattson, N., Durner, E., and Both, A.J. 2020. Potential benefits of silicon nutrition to hydroponically grown sweet basil. Hortscience 55:1799-1803.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2020 Citation: Homa, K., Barney, W.F., Davis, W.P., Guerrero, D., Berger, M.J., Lopez, J.L., Wyenandt, C.A., and Simon, J.E. 2020. Cold plasma treatment strategies for control of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. basilici in sweet basil. Hortscience
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Wyenandt, C.A., and J.E. Simon. 2020. Evaluation of biopesticide and conventional fungicides for management of downy mildew in sweet basil, 2019. Plant Dis. Manag. Rep. 14:175.

Progress 10/01/18 to 09/30/19

Outputs
Target Audience:Vegetable growers, Industry representatives, Crop consultants, Extension personnel Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The information developed by this research program is disseminated at a number of local and regional Extension meetings. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results are distributed via written reports and powerpoint presentations at a number of local and regional Extension meetings. Research results are also published through the appropiate peer-reviewed journals. Important information is dessimated on a regular basis online through the Rutgers Plant & Pest Advisory. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Disseminate information generated during the 2018-2019 production season at local and regional meetings, written publications, and via the Rutgers Plant and Pest Advisory.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The evaluation of the efficacy of a number of fungicides for controlling important diseases in crops such as basil, pepper, and cucurbit were done with these results being distributed to industry stakeholders at local and regional meetings. Fungicides for the control of cucurbit downy and powdery mildew were monitored for resistance development. Bell pepper cultivars were evaluated for their resistance to Phytophthora blight and bacterial leaf spot, two economically important pathogens of pepper in the state. Sweet basil breeding lines were evaluated for their resistance/tolerance to basil downy mildew caused by Peronospora belbahrii and a PVP was issued for four of these new in Dec. 2018. In one of the recent publications from the research, results suggest that seed of any basil cultivar, including resistant cultivars, should not be produced in the same location where the pathogen has the capability of infecting or infesting susceptible cultivars and vice versa. This is especially important if 1) seed testing is not done or unreliable tests or methods are used to detect for the presence of the pathogen; or 2) when seed is to be sold globally or across large geographical areas. Methods for testing and detection of P. belbahrii in seed should be adopted by the global basil seed industry to help mitigate dissemination of the pathogen that could lead to widespread outbreaks of the disease. Importantly, there are no industry-accepted, reliable methods for treating basil seed for downy mildew. Producing sweet basil in areas in which the pathogen has not yet been detected may be one strategy to employ, yet the pathogen could still be brought into a farm or region via natural weather patterns or on transplants or potted basils grown in areas where the pathogen is present. This research demonstrates for the first time that basil seed, regardless of basil species and/or whether the basil plant is susceptible (as in case of commercial sweet basil cultivars) or resistant (as the case of several exotic basils such as 'Spice'), can test positive for the presence of P. belbahrii using real-time PCR assay following an outbreak of the disease. Although the presence of the pathogen using the real-time PCR assay does not constitute viability of the inoculum per se, it indicates the importance of quality control practices incorporated into seed increases and collection to avoid the unintentional spread of basil downy mildew on seed.

Publications

• Type: Books Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Stevenson, K. L, .McGrath, M. T., and Wyenandt, C. A. 2019. Fungicide Resistance in North America, 2nd Ed. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN.
• Type: Book Chapters Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: McGrath, M. T., Wyenandt, C. A., and Stevenson, K. L. 2019. Occurrence of Fungicide Resistance in Pathogens of Non-Solanaceous Vegetable Crops. Chapter 23 in: Fungicide Resistance in North America, 2nd Ed. Katherine L. Stevenson, Margaret T. McGrath, and Christian A. Wyenandt (eds). The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN.
• Type: Book Chapters Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Leadbeater, A., McGrath, M. T., Wyenandt, C. A., and Stevenson, K. L. 2019. An overview of fungicide resistance and resistance management: History and future trends. Chapter 1 in: Fungicide Resistance in North America, 2nd Ed. Katherine L. Stevenson, Margaret T. McGrath, and Christian A. Wyenandt (eds). The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Patel. N., Kobayashi, D.Y., Noto, A.J., Baldwin, A.C., Simon, J.E., and Wyenandt, C.A. 2019. First report of Pseudomonas chicorii causing bacterial leaf spot on sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) in New Jersey. Plant Dis. 103: 2666.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Rajmohan, N., Wyenandt, C.A., Simon, J.E., and Gianfagna, T.J. 2019. First report of Golovinomyces monardae causing powdery mildew in spearmint in New Jersey. Plant Dis. 103:2686.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Wyenandt, C.A., Maimone, L.R., Homa, K., Madeiras, A.M., Wick, R.L., and J.E. Simon. 2018. Detection of the downy mildew pathogen on seed of basil following field infection in southern New Jersey. HortTechnology 28:637-641.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Li, Yuan, Both, A-J., Wyenandt, C.A., Durner, E.F., and Heckman, J.R. 2019. Applying wollastonite to adjust pH and suppress powdery mildew in pumpkin. HortTechnology 29:811-820.

Progress 10/01/17 to 09/30/18

Outputs
Target Audience:Vegetable growers, Extension specialists and County Agents, Industry Representatives. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The information developed by this research program is disseminated at a number of local and regional Extension meetings. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results are distributed via written reports and powerpoint presentations at a number of local and regional Extension meetings. Research results are also published through the appropiate peer-reviewed journals. Important information is dessimated on a regular basis online through the Rutgers Plant & Pest Advisory. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Disseminate information generated during the 2018 production season at local and regional meetings, written publications, and via the Rutgers Plant and Pest Advisory.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? In the mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions of the United States, approximately 17,500 farms produce vegetable crops annually with a value of more than $1.2 billion (NASS 2012). Over 60,000 acres of cucurbit crops were grown in both regions in 2012 (NASS 2012). In recent years, several new fungicide chemistries and modes-of-action (MOAs) labeled for use in vegetable production have been registered in the United States. Since 2007, a fungicide resistance management guide has been available to vegetable growers in the mid-Atlantic region to help manage resistance development. NJAES researchers contributed to the first fungicide resistance management table in 2009 to the publications. Updates have been published in 2018 to this guide. This research helps develop and implement integrated disease management strategies for the control of important vegetable diseases in New Jersey utilizing fungicide resistance management strategies along the use of disease resistant/tolerant vegetable cultivars and other best management practices. This research helps support the mission of the NJAES by helping to enhance the vitality, health, sustainability and overall quality of life of people in New Jersey by developing and delivering practical, effective solutions to current and future challenges in agriculture and its impacts on the environment; public health; the economy, and rural communities. Four new sweet basil varieties with varying levels of resistance to basil downy mildew were developed and commercially-released in 2018.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Wyenandt, C.A., Maimone, L.R., Homa, K., Madeiras, A.M., Wick, R.L., and J.E. Simon. 2018. Detection of downy mildew on seed of basil following field infection in southern New Jersey. HortTechnology 28:637-641.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Pyne, R.M., Honig, J.A., Vaiciunas, J., Wyenandt, C.A., and J.E. Simon. 2018. Population structure, genetic diversity, and downy mildew resistance among Ocimum species germplasm. BMC Plant Biology 18:69
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Patel, N., Baldwin, A., Patel, R., Vaiciunas, S., Wyenandt, A., and D. Kobayashi. 2018. First report of Dickeya dianthicola causing blackleg and soft rot on potato (Solanum tuberosum) in New Jersey, U.S.A. Plant Disease
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Wyenandt, C.A., McGrath, M.T., Everts, K.E., Rideout, S.L., Gugino, B.K., and Kleczewski, N. 2018. Fungicide resistance management guidelines for cucurbit downy and powdery mildew in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions of the United States in 2018. Plant Heath Progress.
• Type: Book Chapters Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2019 Citation: Leadbetter, A., McGrath, M.T., Wyenandt, C.A., and K. Stevenson. An Overview of Fungicide Resistance and Resistance Management ⿿ History and Future Trends. Fungicide Resistance in North America 2nd Edition. American Phytopathology Society, APS Press, Minneapolis, MN (in press)
• Type: Book Chapters Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2019 Citation: McGrath, M.T., Wyenandt, C.A., and K. Stevenson. Occurrence of Fungicide Resistance in Pathogens of Non-Solanaceous Vegetable Crops. Fungicide Resistance in North America 2nd Edition. American Phytopathology Society, APS Press, Minneapolis, MN (in press)
• Type: Books Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2019 Citation: McGrath, M.T., Wyenandt, C.A., and Stevenson, K. (eds.). 2018. Fungicide Resistance in North America - 2nd Edition. APS Press, American Phytopathological Society (APS), APS Press, Minneapolis, MN. (in press)

Progress 06/21/17 to 09/30/17

Outputs
Target Audience:The audience for this project are vegetable growers, crop consultants, industry representatives, Extension agents and Specialists. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The information developed by this research program is disseminated at a number of local and regional Extension meetings. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results are distributed via written reports and powerpoint presentations at a number of local and regional Extension meetings. Research results are also published through the appropiate peer-reviewed journals. Important information is dessimated on a regular basis online through the Rutgers Plant & Pest Advisory. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Disseminate information generated during the 2017 production season at local and regional meetings, written publications, and via the Rutgers Plant and Pest Advisory.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The evaluation of the efficacy of a number of fungicides for controlling important diseases in crops such as basil, pepper, and cucurbit were done with these results being to distributed to industry stakeholders at local and regional meetings. Fungicides for the control of cucurbit downy and powdery mildew were monitored for resistance development. Bell pepper cultivars were evaluated for their resistance to Phytophthora blight ans bacterial leaf spot, two economically important pathogens of pepper in the state. Sweet basil breeding lines were evaluated for thier resistance/tolerance to basil downy mildew caused by Peronospora belbahrii.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Wyenandt, C.A., Kline, W.L., Ward, D.L., and Brill, N.L. 2017. Production system and cultivar effects on skin separation development in bell pepper fruit. HortTechnology 27:37-44.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Kraskow, C.S., Wyenandt, A., Kline, W.L., Carey, J.B., Hausbeck, M.K. 2017. Evaluation of pepper root rot resistance in an integrated phytophthora blight management program. HortTechnology 27:408-415.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Wyenandt, C.A., Kline, W.L., and Ward, D.L. 2017. Effect of fungicide program on the development of downy mildew in three cucurbit crops in New Jersey. Plant Health Progress.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Pyne, R., Honig, J., Vaiciunas, J., Koroch, A., Wyenandt, C., Bonos, S., and Simon, J. 2017. A first linkage map and downy mildew QTL discovery for sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) facilitated by double digestion restriction site associated DNA sequencing (ddRADseq). Plos One.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: McGrath, M.T. and Wyenandt, C.A. 2017. First Detection of Boscalid Resistance in Podosphaera xanthiii in the United States Associated With Failure to Control Cucurbit Powdery Mildew in New York and New Jersey in 2009. Plant Health Progress.