Lexington, KY 40546

Online at: www.uky.edu/KPN

Number 1349
TOBACCO -Disease Update for the Week of July 22 VEGETABLES -Downy Mildew of Cucurbits LAWN AND TURF -Cicada Killer Wasps

July 23, 2013

PESTS OF HUMANS -The Asian Tiger Mosquito FUNGICIDES -Some Principles of Fungicide Resistance VII: Adaptability of Plant Pathogens DIAGNOSTIC LAB HIGHLIGHTS INSECT TRAP COUNTS product) could have been used as well; however, this product appears to have been pulled from all but the turf and ornamental markets. Mancozeb products cannot be used within 30 days of harvest, while Quadris has a 0-day pre-harvest interval. Treating tobacco with Quadris right before harvest is not warranted nor recommended; however, the 0-day pre-harvest interval means that the fungicide can be used after topping if needed. Blue Mold Update Currently, blue mold is known to be active in the areas around Lancaster, PA and Abingdon, VA. We have not found blue mold in Kentucky as of July 22 and very warm temperatures have helped keep the risk low. At this point in the season, growers should stay alert and monitor closely for disease. Cooler temperatures and changes in weather patterns could move the blue mold pathogen into Kentucky, and growers should be prepared to act if necessary. Tobacco that has been topped and treated for suckers tends to be much less susceptible to blue mold than tobacco that has not been topped. Crops in the latter stage should be watched carefully in the coming days, and a fungicide application should be made if blue mold is found. Quadris is an effective blue mold fungicide, and growers who have made a recent application for target spot or frogeye can expect up to 2 weeks of protection against the disease. Growers who

TOBACCO Disease Update for the Week of July 22 Kenny Seebold, Extension Plant Pathologist Current Status After a short break of hot and mostly sunny weather, rain has returned to many parts of Kentucky. Conditions have been very favorable for target spot and frogeye leaf spot, and we're seeing quite a bit of these on burley around the state. Quadris fungicide, applied at 8 fl oz/A, is the recommended material for target spot and frogeye, and gives good control of disease if applied at least once beginning at layby. For growers making their first application of Quadris on tobacco after this stage, and where target spot or frogeye is present, a rate of 10 to 12 fl oz/A is recommended. In these cases and especially if tobacco is nearing topping-time, drop extensions should be used to insure that fungicide reaches the lower, more disease-prone part of the canopy. Some growers may be considering a follow-up treatment to an earlier application of Quadris to suppress active disease prior to topping. If multiple applications of Quadris are needed, the label requires alternation with a fungicide which has a different mode of action than Quadris. For frogeye and target spot, our only option would be Manzate Pro-Stick or Penncozeb 75DF. Previously, Dithane DF (another mancozeb

haven't treated with Quadris should consider an application to protect against both target spot and frogeye, as well as blue mold. As mentioned earlier, back-to-back sprays of Quadris are prohibited by the label and a fungicide with a different mode of action must be used. Other fungicides that are labeled for suppression of blue mold in Kentucky include Actigard, Forum, Revus, Manzate Pro-Stick, and Penncozeb. Actigard (0.5 oz/A) is a highly systemic product that induces tobacco plants to become resistant to blue mold; this material needs an activation period of 4-5 days for full induction of resistance and will not do well if disease is active already. Forum SC (2-8 fl oz/A) has worked well in our research trials against blue mold; however, Forum must be tank-mixed with a product that has a different mode of action as well. Manzate ProStick or Penncozeb are recommended for this purpose. The newest product on the market for control of blue mold is Revus (8 fl oz/A). Revus is very effective against blue mold, but has the same mode of action as Forum. These products cannot be tank-mixed, but can be used in alternation. Actigard, Forum, and Revus will not control frogeye leaf spot or target spot; Quadris is the only product labeled for these two diseases on tobacco. We will continue to monitor for blue mold and will send alerts if the disease is found. Please contact me if you find or suspect blue mold in your area. For recommendations on the control of tobacco diseases, please consult past issues of the Kentucky Pest News, or the Kentucky-Tennessee Tobacco Production Guide (ID-160), available at http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/id/id160/id160.pd f. VEGETABLES
Downy and Powdery Mildews of Cucurbits

Historically, downy mildew begins to show up in Kentucky around mid-August, but things seem to be quite a bit ahead of schedule this year. Downy mildew on cucurbits is an aggressive, fast-moving disease and can be really hard to stop when it gets started. Identifying downy mildew on cucurbits can be a little tricky, because symptoms on each species of cucurbit vary to some degree. What's more, downy mildew can be confused with powdery mildew. Both of these diseases are similar in that they are caused by obligate pathogens, meaning that the pathogen must be associated with a host plant to survive. The downy mildew pathogen, Pseudoperonospora cubensis, is not a true fungus. It belongs to the Oomycetes and is related to the pathogen that causes blue mold of tobacco; however, powdery mildew is caused by Podosphaera xanthii and belongs to the Ascomycete group of "true" fungi. Although downy mildew is more common in wet weather, fogs and heavy dews can contribute enough moisture to allow infection during "dry" weather. Powdery mildew is more likely to be a problem when conditions are warm and dry, and it tends to develop gradually over the course of several weeks. In terms of symptoms, the two diseases can be confused. Early on, both can cause yellow spots on the upper surface of a leaf. In the case of downy mildew, leaf spots tend to be small, blocky, and are limited by leaf veins, while spots associated with powdery mildew are round and somewhat diffuse. On the underside of a leaf with downy mildew, lesions will initially appear sunken and slightly water-soaked. As downy mildew progresses, infected leaves will take on a scorched appearance. Leaf yellowing (chlorosis) is more common with powdery mildew, and infected leaves will be covered with a white, talc-like, superficial growth (from which powdery mildew takes its name) that tends to favor the upper leaf surface; however, it is not uncommon to find colonies of the powdery mildew fungus on lower leaf surfaces, stems, or vines and even fruit, if disease is severe. One of the key features of downy mildew is the pattern of sporulation, which occurs only on the underside of an infected leaf and has a faint, fuzzy

Kenny Seebold, Extension Plant Pathologist Over the past few weeks, downy mildew has become quite active on cucurbits along the East coast of the U.S. and also southern states. Forecasts from North Carolina State University indicated that there was a slight to moderate risk of spread into Kentucky just after the 4th of July.

or "downy" appearance. It is easier to observe sporulation with downy mildew in the morning when there's plenty of leaf wetness. It's very easy to distinguish the downy and powdery mildew pathogens at the microscopic level; sporangia of downy mildew are formed on sporangiophores that have a distinctive branching pattern that gives them the appearance of "deer antlers." Conidia of powdery mildew are formed in chains on relatively simple structures. If downy mildew is suspected, send a sample in to the Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab in Lexington or Princeton for examination. Images of downy mildew on several cucurbit hosts can be found at http://www.uky.edu/Ag/kpn/kyblue/Galleries/Cuc urbitDM/index.html. The IPM Scouting Guide for Common Problems of Cucurbit Crops in Kentucky, ID-91, is another good source of images and management tips for major cucurbit diseases, and can be found at www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/id/id91/id91.pdf. MANAGEMENT TIPS FOR COMMERCIAL GROWERS: At this point, and as weather permits, commercial growers who are not on a preventive fungicide program should begin treating as soon as possible. Not only will this help with downy and powdery mildew, but a regular program will help suppress other cucurbit diseases such as gummy stem blight (watermelons) and Alternaria leaf blight, both of which are present at the moment. A spray interval in the 7-to-10 day range will be adequate, but should be shortened if disease-favorable conditions are present or if disease threatens. Powdery mildew: Rally 40WSP should be applied at the first signs of disease (5 oz/A); this can be tank-mixed with other fungicides and it's important to not spray this material more than once before switching to another product with a different mode of action (chlorothalonil is a great choice). Quintec is also a good choice for powdery mildew, as is Fontelis. Quintec can be used on hard-rinded cucurbits only (pumpkins, watermelons, winter squashes, and gourds). Downy mildew: Chlorothalonil and mancozeb fungicides offer reasonable protection against downy mildew if sprayed on a regular schedule. Growers shouldn't use Quadris, Cabrio, or Ridomil

products for cucurbit downy mildew, even though they are labeled for this disease. Nearly all the downy mildew we get in Kentucky is resistant to these fungicides. Here's a quick rundown of the options and their effectiveness: Ranman (2.1 to 2.75 fl oz/A) - very effective, 0-day PHI. Presidio (3 to 4 fl oz/A) - very effective, 2day PHI. Resistance problems reported in some states. Revus (8 fl oz/A) - very effective, 0-day PHI. Resistance problems are widespread in the southeastern U.S. Previcur Flex (0.6 to 1.2 pt/A) - effective, 2day PHI. Resistance problems are widespread in the southeastern U.S. Zampro (14 fl oz/A) very effective, 0-day PHI. Please note that resistance to Presidio, Revus, and Previcur Flex has been documented in the southeastern U.S. Growers in Kentucky have had success with these fungicides in the past, but there's a good chance that their effectiveness could be diminished this year based on reports from neighboring states. The safest bet would be to use Ranman or Zampro these work very well, and there are no resistance issues right now. Be sure to rotate downy mildew-specific products with chlorothalonil, fixed copper, or mancozeb; never make back-to-back sprays with Ranman or Zampro to slow resistance buildup. Please see ID36, the Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial Growers, for rates. MANAGEMENT TIPS FOR HOME GARDENERS: Use good management practices, including adequate fertility and irrigation management (water early if irrigating overhead). In the case of powdery mildew, removal of heavily affected foliage (assuming the entire plant is not consumed) can remove a substantial amount of inoculum. Homeowners can use over-the-counter vegetable fungicides that contain chlorothalonil, mancozeb, or fixed copper. Sulfur products are also very effective against powdery mildew, and downy mildew to a lesser extent. Just be mindful that sulfur can burn foliage if the air temperatures exceed 90F. Another, easy-to-use remedy is baking soda. Add 1-3 tsp/gallon of water for best

results. With all fungicides, regular applications are critical. During favorable weather, spray every 5-7 days and during drier and hot weather, extend the schedule to every 7-10 days. Coverage of upper and lower leaf surfaces is important to achieve good control, as is starting the spray program before disease is seen, or when symptoms first appear. The latter will serve for powdery mildew; however, for downy mildew, preventive sprays are a must. Controlling downy mildew will require some type of fungicidal spray; products that will provide some control include chlorothalonil, mancozeb, and fixed copper. Sulfur is somewhat suppressive as well. MANAGEMENT TIPS FOR ORGANIC PRODUCERS: Follow the guidelines as listed above for good management practices. OMRIapproved fungicides are limited to some sulfurs, some fixed coppers, and potassium bicarbonates. Check product labels to verify that they are approved for organic production. Powdery mildew will be controlled with sulfur and suppressed by fixed copper if the materials are applied preventively and in a timely fashion. Potassium bicarbonates are also effective against powdery mildew, but have no residual activity and must be applied regularly. Against downy mildew, fixed copper will be the best bet. There are also biopesticides and biorationals such as Serenade (Bacillus subtilis) and neem oil that show some suppressive activity. With all products available to organic producers, as with home gardeners, good coverage and timeliness are critical to have any hope of controlling either powdery or downy mildew effectively. LAWN AND TURF Cicada Killer Wasps Lee Townsend, Extension Entomologist Cicada killer wasps are active across Kentucky during July and August. Females are intent on their tasks: 1) digging underground burrows and 2) provisioning them with the paralyzed cicadas that will be food for their grub-like larvae. These insects are very focused on their tasks and pay no attention to anything else unless handled or mashed by bare feet. Males, on the other hand, are

territorial and quite ready to investigate anything or anyone who passes through "their" area. They also seem to be attracted to vibrations from weed eaters, mowers, and tractors. You are most likely to encounter a male that can't sting. However, they are intimidating. Wasps remain in their burrows at night so encounters can be avoided by managing the activity of the pet and lawn or garden chores.

Figure 1. Female cicada killer carrying a cicada to her burrow

Will cicada killers harm pets? Some dogs and cats may catch cicada killers out of curiosity but usually only once. Those that pick females (Figure 1) probably will be stung, remember it, and associate the experience with the buzzing sound and warning colors. A few may have a severe reaction, especially if stung in the mouth. If that is suspected, take the animal to your veterinarian immediately. Burrowing sites selected by cicada killer wasps have some specific characteristics. They are in open, well-drained, sandy or light-textured soils that allow efficient digging. This is an important feature because the wasps may excavate as much as 100 cubic inches of soil when forming tunnels. Soil brought to the surface can be unsightly in highly managed turf and may smother grass, causing bare spots. The wasps often dig along sidewalk or patio edges, in flowerbeds, gardens, or lawns. Site characteristics are why the wasps are present and why their numbers increase over time. An estimated 40% of the developing larvae (a 12 or more per tunnel) may emerge as adults the following year. That is an impressive population growth rate, so numbers can build rapidly. Treating burrows in an attempt to control may provide some temporary relief but doesn't change

the area's attraction to the wasps; they will be back. Control may be desirable in situations where physical damage is occurring or the presence of the insects is causing significant distress. Cicada killer wasps were controlled in a West Virginia study by sprays of pyrethroid insecticides (cyfluthrin or cyhalothrin). Applications were made directly into the burrows or only to the entrances; the wasps contacted the insecticides as they entered and left. Broadcast sprays over the area where cicada killers were nesting were not effective in reducing their numbers. The most likely non-chemical control option involves scattering the soil around the burrow entrances and keeping the burrow entrance area very moist by drenching it regularly with water. The wasps do not like moisture and this may cause them to find a new location. Also, the soil collar may be an important burrow-finding cue. Without it, the wasp may have trouble locating the entrance. This approach requires a persistent effort so it is most practical for small areas. What are the tunnels like? Cicada killer tunnels usually have a distinctive U-shaped collar of loose soil around the opening. They can range from 30to 70-inches long and may run 12- to 15-inches below the surface. The first chamber is about a foot or so from the entrance. There are an average of 15 egg-shaped side chambers along the tunnel. Each contains 1 to 3 paralyzed cicadas and an egg which hatches in 2 to 3 days. The grub-like wasp larva feeds for about 10 days, leaving only the cicada's outer shell. During the fall, the larva spins a silken case, shrinks, and prepares to overwinter. Development will be completed when wasps emerge next summer. There is one generation each year.

Peak biting occurs early in the morning and late in the afternoon but they can feed most any time of the day. This mosquito typically approaches at ankle level and moves upward until it finds a place to feed (Figure 2). If many are around, they can make being outdoors very unpleasant.

Figure 2. Asian tiger mosquito ready to feed

The Asian tiger mosquito belongs to a group called "container breeders" because females lay their eggs in small accumulations of water. Artificial containers, cans, trash, tires, buckets, gutters, and clogged downspouts are main breeding sites but most anything that will hold water for 5-7 days will work. Asian tiger mosquitoes rarely move more than 100 yards from the site where they develop. If you are being bitten during the day, then there is probably a breeding site in your yard. That means you can do a lot to reduce problems with this pest. The Asian tiger mosquito is one of the more than 50 mosquito species that can be found in the Commonwealth.

FUNGICIDES Some Principles of Fungicide Resistance VII: Adaptability of Plant Pathogens Paul Vincelli, Extension Plant Pathologist I have learned never to underestimate plant pathogens. One of the most important principles of fungicide resistance is that microorganisms, such as plant pathogens, are remarkably adaptable. From a practical standpoint, what this means is that we cannot assume that resistance will never develop to the fungicides we use for disease control. This is especially the case for the many new products with very specific modes of action.

PESTS OF HUMANS The Asian Tiger Mosquito Lee Townsend, Extension Entomologist Striped markings and a fierce bite make the Asian tiger mosquito a significant nuisance mosquito.

Here is an example. In a previous article in this series, I wrote about how fungicide resistance can be like a coat of armor (Figure 3), protecting the fungus when fungicide is sprayed, but weighing it down in the absence of fungicide. In such a case, we say that there is a "fitness cost" for resistance to that fungicide.

turns out that mutation rates vary, depending on the environment. It is especially interesting that environmental stress can actually trigger higher mutation rates in some microorganisms. In other words, under a stressful environment, the genetic machinery of microorganisms may generate more variants than normal. This is highly adaptive, since some of the new variants might be "just right" for the new environmental conditions. In fact, in bacteria, researchers have shown that antibiotics can actually increase the rate of mutation. It is interesting to wonder whether this may happen in response to pesticide application.

Figure 3. Imagine fungicide resistance being like a coat of armor, protecting the spore from the chemical poison. (Image of "ring armor," retrieved 23 June 2013, from http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/)

Figure 4. The double helix of DNA, showing a few letters of the genetic code. A change in the sequence of letters is an example of a mutation. Image from http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/brain_basics/genes_at_ work.htm

So if there is a heavy cost to resistance to a pesticide, what might microorganisms do? Sometimes they genetically fix that problem, in two steps: First, they develop the resistance to the toxin (the heavy armor); Then, over several generations, they evolve a progressively lighter and lighter armor, to the point where they still carry the protective armor, but it is no longer a burden. This process, called "compensatory mutation," has been documented in bacteria, though to my knowledge, not in fungi. But honestly, I know of no reason why it shouldn't happen in fungi. After all, if the armor is heavy, basic evolutionary biology suggests that strains carrying lighter armor will provide a competitive advantage. Another example: As discussed in the first article in this series, mutation (Figure 4) is a driving force behind the development of fungicide resistance. It

Commercial fungicides are recent inventions, so how is it that fungi even have genes for resistance to these materials? The fact is that microorganisms typically use genes that have evolved for other purposes. For example, fungi sometimes resist a fungicide by simply pumping it out of the cell using a molecular "efflux pump" (look at the top of Figure 5). Efflux pumps have existed for millions of years, so they didn't evolve specifically to resist modern fungicides. They evolved to pump out naturally occurring toxins. However, they often work well against our modern pesticides. In fact, they usually work against a variety of unrelated toxins, so they are said to give the microorganism "multi-drug resistance." Thus, fungi may sometimes be "pre-adapted" to resist our modern fungicides, because they possess an efflux pump. We simply select these resistant strains by applying fungicides.

buckeye rot, powdery mildew, tomato spotted wilt virus, and Botrytis leaf blight on tomato; anthracnose and Cercospora leaf spot on watermelon. On ornamentals and turf, we have seen Pythium root rot on geranium; downy mildew on impatiens; Botrytis blight on petunia; bacterial spot on zinnia; frogeye and fire blight on crabapple; Botryosphaeria canker on elm and white fir; Pythium root rot on bentgrass; and brown patch on fescue and ryegrass.

2013 INSECT TRAP COUNTS

Figure 5. Diverse ways that a microbe may resist a poison. Image from http://www.asu.edu/courses/css335/ar.htm

July 12 July 19
Location Black cutworm Armyworm European corn borer Corn earworm Southwestern corn borer Fall armyworm Princeton, KY 0 10 2 2 16 0 Lexington, KY 0 94 2 3 0 0

Bottom line Fungi and other microorganisms are remarkably adaptable. Based on this principle, a conservative assumption is that fungi will find ways to adapt to the fungicides we use for disease control, especially against the many new products with very specific biochemical modes of action.

DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORY HIGHLIGHTS

Julie Beale and Brenda Kennedy, Plant Disease Diagnosticians Agronomic samples diagnosed in the Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in the past week have included contact herbicide injury and soil compaction on corn; leaf streak on orchardgrass; rust on gamagrass; weather fleck, frogeye leaf spot, black shank, soreshin, Fusarium wilt, and tomato spotted wilt virus on tobacco. On fruit and vegetable samples, we have diagnosed black rot and downy mildew on grape; common leaf spot on strawberry; cedar-apple rust on apple; brown rot on nectarine; bacterial spot on peach; anthracnose, Pythium blight, rust, and Rhizoctonia root/stem rot on bean; scab and Rhizoctonia root rot on potato; bacterial spot on pepper; Plectosporium blight on pumpkin; Phytophthora crown rot on rhubarb; Septoria leaf spot, early blight, Pythium root rot, Fusarium wilt,

Graphs of insect trap counts for the 2013 season are available on the IPM web site at http://www.uky.edu/Ag/IPM/ipm.htm.

Note: Trade names are used to simplify the information presented in this newsletter. No endorsement by the Cooperative Extension Service is intended, nor is criticism implied of similar products that are not named.