Vegetable Diseases
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Botrytis gray mold on a tomato leaflet. Photo: Rebecca A. Melanson, MSU Extension, Bugwood.org.
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Early blight on a tomato stem. Photo: Rebecca A. Melanson, MSU Extension, Bugwood.org.
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Bacterial fruit blotch on a watermelon. Photo: Rebecca A. Melanson, MSU Extension, Bugwood.org.
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Southern blight sclerotia and fungal mycelia on a tomato stem. Photo: Rebecca A. Melanson, MSU Extension, Bugwood.org.
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Downy mildew on cantaloupe. Photo: Rebecca A. Melanson, MSU Extension, Bugwood.org.
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Powdery mildew on tomato leaflets. Photo: Rebecca A. Melanson, MSU Extension, Bugwood.org.
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Gummy stem blight lesion and sap exudate on a watermelon vine. Photo: Rebecca A. Melanson, MSU Extension, Bugwood.org.
In Mississippi, a number of vegetables are produced commercially. Many of these vegetables are grown in the field, but some vegetables, particularly tomatoes, are produced in enclosed structures (high tunnels and greenhouses). Many vegetables are also very popular in home gardens. Vegetable production, whether for commercial or personal use, is not always an easy task. A variety of disorders, insects, diseases, and pests may cause problems during any given season and may damage a crop leading to reduced or poor-quality yields.
The information available on the linked pages is intended to provide valuable information about vegetable diseases and management for the home gardener and commercial grower. All MSU Extension publications that contain information on or related to disease management in vegetables are listed on the Vegetable Disease Publications page. Events at which vegetable disease information will be presented are listed on the Vegetable Disease Calendar page. Updates or reminders pertaining to the occurrence or management of vegetable diseases as they may occur or become available will be posted on the Vegetable Disease Updates page.
Publications
News
RAYMOND, Miss. -- Mississippi State University Extension Service plant pathologist Rebecca Melanson was recently recognized for her work to further the development and implementation of integrated pest management in the cucurbit industry. The Emerging Viruses in Cucurbits Working Group, or EVCWG, received the 2024 Friends of IPM Pulling Together Award. Melanson and Bill Wintermantel, a scientist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, co-chair the group that was established in 2022.
Home vegetable garden plants, like this cucumber plant, are one of the many plants the Mississippi State University Extension Service Plant Diagnostic Laboratory can test for disease. Photo by Olya/stock.adobe.com
Did you know the Mississippi State University Extension Service has a laboratory that is designated to diagnose plant diseases and nematodes? Yes, it does! Learn how the Mississippi State University Extension Service Plant Diagnostic Laboratory and its scientists protect the crops that provide our food and fiber along with other home and garden crops.
RAYMOND, Miss. -- Commercial vegetable growers have a new mobile-based resource to help them manage pests and diseases in their crops. The MyIPM for Vegetables app is the latest in the MyIPM app series. MyIPM for Vegetables currently offers resources for tomatoes and cucurbits, which includes cucumbers, pumpkins, squash and watermelons.
