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Anchorage, Alaska

Cleaning out the patch today and had a leaf collapse on me for no particular reason. The middle of the stalk had turned to a honey colored brown mush with otherwise no visible damage. Some of the main vine also has the brown look to it and is sort of peeling.

Does anyone recognize this black magic? I am using Agri-FOS, Daconil, Mancozeb, and Actinovate. Am I missing something?

7/11/2010 3:52:47 AM

Corbin, KY

You better cut leaf off if in vine you must cut the vine until you find a clean center. It will spread to main vine and turn it to mush. Very quickly. I also would like to know if there is anything that will stop it. Also uncover vines. Good Luck!

7/11/2010 9:48:25 PM

Anchorage, Alaska

Thanks. I uncovered the entire main and cut off the leaf. Applied straight daconil to the problem areas and plan to shave it until I find solid green. I guess a captan paste would be a good idea too.

If it continues to be a problem I will send a sample to the pathology lab for a diagnosis. For now I ordered 2lbs of Banrot WP for $86 that is a systemic fungicide for many root and stem diseases. Will let you know if it works. Thanks again for your response.

7/11/2010 10:13:31 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

If there is sign of a boring insect inside then Squash Vine Borers.

If there is orange juice colored fluid, it could be fusarium.

Pictures ?

7/12/2010 9:53:45 AM

Anchorage, Alaska

Went to the patch today and I am sorry to say that it has spread aggressively. All vines which were buried even for only two days are heavily infected with the orange/brown colored blotches. Tremor it sure looks like fusarium but I forgot my camera.

I scraped as much as possible from the main and applied a captan paste. It is probably too much to hope for but I also applied Actinovate (even injected it into the main). Unburied all vines and now I can only wait until the Banrot arrives to see if it can help.

I'm thinking about cutting off an unaffected length of vine to start from in case the plant goes down. Is there anything else I can do?

7/12/2010 10:02:33 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

I'm sorry. In the future don't bury vines. add boatloads of old rotten compost/manure to lighten the soil. Soil Master also helps. Truban, AgriFos, etc can make life with fusarium possible, even productive.

7/13/2010 1:14:56 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Also ask your co-operative extension or a commercial lab for a pathology assessment to be positive before doing anything drastic.

7/13/2010 1:17:28 AM

Cedar Lake, IN.

Newman, any updates?

7/21/2010 6:19:37 AM

Anchorage, Alaska

A week after spraying with Banrot the spread of the disease slowed significantly through the vines, but it was too late to save the main. It also dried out the infected areas where there was a slick rot beforehand. Where the vascular tissue was badly damaged many of the leaves began to turn yellow and collapse. I had secondaries putting on solid disease-free growth, however each and every pumpkin which tried to set was aborted.

I admitted defeat yesterday and pulled up the patch. It has officially been retired for the next 3-5 years.

Thanks again Tremor and Tim for your help.

7/25/2010 9:42:54 AM