Plant Pathology Infobytes

July 15, 1998
Is Your Squash Growing Whiskers?

Mississippi weather can change quickly -- from an extended period of hot and dry conditions to several days of rain, rain, and more rain. While this, along with the cooler temperatures, has brought relief to gardeners and their plants, rapid changes in weather frequently create an environment favorable for development of plant health problems.

This has been the case for crops such as okra and squash, whose yields is currently being affected by wet rot, a plant disease brought on by rainy weather. Wet rot, also known as whiskers rot, is caused by a fungus present in most garden soils. The fungus normally invades okra and squash blooms after they have fallen from plants. However, when it's wet and humid, flowers sometimes don't fall and remain attached to plants.

Problems come about when the wet rot fungus moves in to invade the old flower parts which adhere to young squash fruit and okra pods. Once flowers are decomposed, the wet rot fungus continues its activities and attacks young okra pods or squash fruit which are rotted within a few days.

Okra pods and squash fruit affected by wet rot often develop a distinctive surface growth which resembles whiskers, thus wet rot is sometimes referred to as "whiskers" rot.

What steps should a gardener take to handle wet rot? Control of this disease can be difficult, but certain measures can be used to reduce the problem.

* In future plantings, select areas of the garden with well-drained soil as preferred spots for growing okra and squash. Soils which retain standing water after downpours lead to high humidity conditions favorable for wet rot development.

* Plant at recommended seeding rates, since dense plantings stay wet longer because of reduced air circulation and poor sunlight penetration.

* There are no fungicides which are cleared for use on okra or squash which will control wet rot.

* Wet rot on okra can be reduced by removal of two or three of the lower leaves. This practice promotes faster drying of flowers and pods and prevents wet rot development.

For additional information on control of garden pests, check with us at the County Extension Office.


Written by the late Dr. Frank Killebrew

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