Managing Cucurbit Downy Mildew in Organic Systems in the Northeast

This webinar, by Chris Smart of Cornell University, was recorded on December 6, 2016.

About the Webinar

Downy mildew of cucumber, pumpkin and other cucurbits occurs annually in the Northeastern US causing severe losses in yield.  This presentation will discuss when the pathogen first arrives in and area and how the pathogen spreads.  Additionally, methods for controlling cucurbit downy mildew will be discussed including resistant varieties and cultural controls. Results from studies on the use and effectiveness of organically approved commercially available products for controlling downy mildew will also be presented. 

This webinar was organized by members of the NIFA-OREI funded Eastern Sustainable Cucurbit Project, which is a collaboration of growers, researchers and extension agents working to find solutions for the many challenges facing organic cucurbit producers.

Slides from the webinar: PDF handout

About the Presenter

Christine Smart of the Department of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology at Cornell University studies primarily bacterial and water mold pathogens of vegetables, working with growers to combine cultural practices and resistant varieties for disease control. She has been working at Cornell University’s New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva since 2003.

Published August 12, 2016

This is an eOrganic article and was reviewed for compliance with National Organic Program regulations by members of the eOrganic community. Always check with your organic certification agency before adopting new practices or using new materials. For more information, refer to eOrganic's articles on organic certification.