Environmental

Starting to see some watermelon, cucumber and other cucurbit crops that are looking a bit pale green or even yellow (fig. 1). Sometimes the plants have brown speckles or spots on them that may look like a foliar disease has started (fig. 2).

Southern bacterial wilt of tomato, which is caused by the soil-borne bacterium Ralstonia solanacearum Race 1, has been found in several tomato fields just recently. This pathogen affects many solanaceous crops and is found throughout the southern United States.