Plectosporium Blight of Cucurbit Crops
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Plectosporium blight (Plectosporium tabacinum), formerly called Microdochium blight, affects pumpkin primarily and squash to a lesser degree. Symptoms include elongated, white, somewhat diamond-shaped lesions on stems, petioles, and veins of leaves. Lesions also may be found on leaf surfaces. As the disease progresses, significant blighting (large bleached areas) and decline occur. Lesions can be found on fruit handles and rinds; these lesions can merge to form large, blighted areas on the fruit.
Plectosporium blight on pumpkin fruit.
(Photo: William Nesmith, University of Kentucky)
Plectosporium blight on pumpkin foliage.
(Photo: Kenny Seebold, University of Kentucky)
Plectosporium blight on pumpkin stem.
(Photo: Kenny Seebold, University of Kentucky)
Management:
- Crop rotation
- Plastic mulch
- Fungicides
