March 2020 - 17

those caused by bacterials - are
seedborne and the message continues
to be only use clean seed. " Use
certified seed, " Miller said. " But
remember, 'pathogen-tested' does not
guarantee 'pathogen-free'. "
Treating seeds with hot water or
dilute bleach is important and works
best with raw seed. " Seed treatment
with bleach is quite simple, " Miller said.
The Ohio State University Extension
Factsheet Hot Water and Chlorine
Treatment of Vegetable Seeds to
Eradicate Bacterial Plant Pathogens is
an excellent guide on seed treatment
and is available at: https://u.osu.edu/
vegetablediseasefacts/management/
hot-water-seed-treatment/.
" When you decide to treat seed, treat
all of the seeds going into a seed lot, "
Miller said. Always pre-test seed before
treating a large seed lot. Don't produce
transplants from treated and nontreated
seeds in the same greenhouse.
Choose resistant varieties but know
the issues.
Resistance to phytophthora root rot is
only in the root and crown phases. The
fruit and foliage remain susceptible.
Bacterial leaf spot resistance is
complicated by the pathogen having
multiple races. The pathogen may
overcome the resistance but so far it
isn't a common problem.
There isn't any specific resistance to
syringae leaf spot but the disease is so
weather-dependent that may not be a
concern. " This a cool weather disease, "
Miller said. It declines rapidly when
the weather heats up in mid-summer.
NIRVANA
to the soil media for root pathogens,
adding a 10% compost or drench mix
can help. " If you have good quality
compost, mix that in with your
biological products to reduce the
root pathogens such as pythium and
rhizoctonia, " Miller said.
Install solid flooring in the
greenhouse or raise the seedlings
off the floor. Ornamentals can
have thrips so ornamentals in the
same greenhouse as peppers pose a
tospovirus risk.
Smokers in the greenhouse
are tobamovirus risks. Limit the
movement of any contaminant
source - workers, tools or equipment -
between greenhouses.
Plan to use two to three applications
of copper, streptomycin or biologicals
for bacterial diseases.
Use water wisely
Water only as much as needed for
good seedling growth to reduce the risks
of pythium and the bacterial diseases.
" The big thing is water, " Miller said. " We
recommend dry growing. Give the plants
what they need but don't overwater. "
For field production, chose a welldrained
site that's sunny, has good air
movement, and rotate. " Rotation is
critical, " Miller said.
Rotation must be out of any crop in
the tomato, eggplant or pepper family.
For bacterial leaf spot, growing peppers
or any other host crop every other year
is adequate. For canker and syringae
leaf spot, plant peppers or a host crop
no fewer than one year in three and for
phytophthora or white mold no fewer than
one year in four or five. If phytophthora
blight is the concern, you must also rotate
away from cucurbits or beans.
Use the best cultural practices. Clean
and sanitize equipment and sanitize hands,
boots and tools between fields. Don't handle
plants when they're wet and raised beds can
help with phytophthora and pythium.
Fungicides are a must. Only use
products labeled for the situation,
rotate fungicide classes and consider
biological/biorational products.
The Midwest Vegetable Production
Guide at www.mwvegguide.org is a
good source of product registrations for
Midwest growers. VGN
RAISING THE BAR
Nirvana offers growers the complete package;
with strong vigor and emergence and the
highest quality taste and texture. Its sweetness
and bite is truly unique. This Crookham variety
is high yielding with uniform, the full tipped
ears have good kernel contrast and rowing.
TIME BOMB
CHOCOLATE
SPRINKLES
Bacterial leaf spot of pepper. Photo S.A.
Johnson/Rutgers University
Pepper types vary in their
susceptibility to bacterial canker. " All
peppers are susceptible but canker is
less common on banana and jalapeno
peppers, " Miller said.
Resistance to TMV/ToMV is
commercially available. " Viruses
change rapidly, " Miller said. " You may
not want to rely totally on resistance
as your control strategy. "
Use pathogen-free transplants and
the key is sanitation.
Sanitize equipment and tools
regularly, clean and sanitize the
greenhouse after each crop, sanitize
any surface water you're using, and
only use new or sanitized plug trays.
" It's all about sanitation, " Miller said.
If you're adding biological products
Time Bomb is a hot, cherry
pepper from Seminis that has a
light smoky flavor. Time Bomb
peppers have light heat and
are great pickled, processed or
chopped into salsas.
Chocolate Sprinkles from
PanAmerican Seed provides an
heirloom flavor and appearance
with a modern disease package
and firm texture. It performs
well in high tunnel and open
field. Unique dark red fruit with a
green striped exterior and purple
flesh color.
RAISING THE BAR
IN QUALITY, FLAVOR, AND YIELD
Bringing you the best products in partnership with
Crookham, PanAmerican Seed, Seed Sense, and Seminis.
Visit ruppseeds.com to request or download your copy
of our 2020 catalog including 37 new products.
800-700-1199 * ruppseeds.com
VGN | MARCH 2020 | 15
PROCUT RED
ProCut Red is the latest
breakthrough in sunflowers from
Seed Sense! The single stem
plants produce 4-6 " blooms with
deep burgundy colored petals.
ProCut Red is one of eight new
sunflowers added to our lineup
for 2020.
https://u.osu.edu/ http://www.mwvegguide.org http://www.ruppseeds.com http://www.ruppseeds.com
March 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of March 2020
