Plant Diseases Management | University of Maryland Extension

Updated: October 22, 2024

Using Difenoconazole Fungicides for Effective Disease Management

Difenoconazole is a sterol-inhibiting (SI) fungicide recently registered for use on grapes and other fruit. It belongs to FRAC Group 3, along with myclobutanil (Rally), tebuconazole (Elite, Tebuzol, Orius), and fenarimol (Vintage, formerly Rubigan). Difenoconazole protects vines and fruit from powdery mildew (PM), black rot (BR), and Phomopsis cane and leaf spot.

Updated: October 22, 2024

Pre-Harvest Disease Management and Late Season Bunch Rots

Many vineyards are approaching or already within 30 days of the anticipated harvest date for early wine grape varieties. During this window, grape berries are becoming very susceptible to a variety of late-season rots, such as ripe rot, sour rot, Botrytis bunch rot, and other “secondary-fungi” associated with bunch rots.

Timely Viticulture Timeline: Pre-Harvest

Updated: October 22, 2024

Organic Certification

For thousands of years, food has been produced utilizing naturally occurring minerals and organic nutrients. Historic discoveries from ancient Rome, to Egypt, to Mexico illustrate that the process of growing food crops heavily relied upon the use of manure and composted plant vegetation.

Updated: October 22, 2024

Checklist for Fusarium Head Blight Fungicide Applications

As wheat approaches flowering, here is a final list of reminders/tips to make the most of your fungicide applications that are targeted to manage Fusarium head blight (head scab):

Updated: October 22, 2024

Agronomy News-April 2021

Agronomy News is a statewide newsletter for farmers, consultants, researchers, and educators interested in grain and row crop forage production systems. The topic for this edition is Cost-Share Grants Expanded, Evaluating Wheat Stands, Fusarium Head Blight Management, Early-Season Wheat Disease Scouting, April IPM Insect Scouting Tips, Cover Crop Termination for 2021, Maryland Circuit Court Judge Reverses Final Maryland AFO Permit, Maryland Ag Land Preservation, Pesticide Disposal Program, Pesticide Recertification Workbook, US Corn & Soybean Planting Acreage Report, Cooperators Needed For On-Farm Nitrogen Trials, What To Do With Thinning Alfalfa Stands, Weather Outlook, and Regional Crop Reports.

Updated: October 22, 2024

Pre-Bloom To Post-Bloom Disease Management

The growth period from 2 weeks pre-bloom until 3 to 4 weeks post-bloom is the most critical for protecting foliage, and especially flowers and newly set fruit from black rot (BR), Phomopsis (Ph), powdery mildew (PM), Downy mildew (DM), and Botrytis bunch rot infections.

Timely Viticulture Timeline: Pre-Bloom, Bloom, and Post Bloom

Updated: October 22, 2024

Spray Program for Multi-Tree Fruit Orchards

Multi-fruit orchard spray program for the control of major tree fruit pests and diseases.

Updated: October 22, 2024

Turfgrass Diseases: Pythium Blight (FS-2024-0707)

Pythium blight is a significant disease affecting turfgrass in the Mid-Atlantic region, particularly during warm, humid conditions. This disease impacts both cool-season and warm-season turfgrass, with creeping bentgrass, perennial ryegrass, and annual bluegrass being most susceptible. Pythium blight is caused by several species of Pythium thriving in wet and humid environments. Symptoms include water-soaked, greasy lesions on leaves and stems, progressing to large, blighted patches. Management strategies involve cultural practices such as proper irrigation, soil aeration, and maintaining appropriate mowing heights. Biological control, though beneficial, is often insufficient alone. Chemical management remains crucial, though rotating products is essential to prevent fungicide resistance. Integrated disease management practices are recommended for maintaining healthy turfgrass and mitigating the impact of Pythium blight. Author: Fereshteh Shahoveisi; Turfgrass Diseases: Pythium Blight (FS-2024-0707).

Updated: October 22, 2024

Commercial Blueberry Production

A variety of information on commercial blueberry production including organic production, pest and weed management, frost and freeze prevention, and more.

Updated: October 22, 2024

Women In Agriculture Webinar Series on Risk Management: Production

This webpage is the production archives of the Women In Agriculture webinars.