• Black root rot of cucurbits

  away. Infection in the early stages of the crop results in stunted growth and smaller leaves with an intense green colour. Severe infection in this stage may [...] may kill the plants. In case of a less severe infection, the vines may wilt at a late stage of the crop, but when water supply is in any way limited during [...] cucurbits Phomopsis sclerotioides survives in the soil and is a strong saprophytic competitor, which means it can rapidly colonize ‘clean’ or sterilized

• Oleander aphid

  apterae in appearance except that they are smaller. Size ranges from 1.5 to 2.6 mm in length. Females are viviparous and parthenogenetic, meaning that they [...] is cosmopolitan, and can be found in tropical to warm temperate regions throughout the world. It probably originated in the Mediterranean region, the origin [...] the milkweed aphid, is a common pest of several important ornamental plants in the families Apocynaceae and Asclepiadaceae. It is commonly found feeding

• Biological seed treatment

  Biological substances are applied to the seed in a powder form or as a liquid. An even layer covers the whole seed. In this way, the beneficial ingredients are [...] availability of plant nutrients in the root system and increases nutrient uptake; The enhanced root and shoot growth means that the early growth rate is [...] boosted; Biological seed treatment reduces the use of agrochemicals which results in a lower exposure of growers to chemicals and lessens their impact on the

• Black leg of seedlings

  Pythium affects roots, in particular those of seedlings. Infected plants lag in growth. Seedlings fall over (‘ damping-off ’). In slightly older plants [...] General Pythium is considered a ‘weak pathogen’, meaning that it can usually only affect plants that are in a sub-optimal condition or suffer from stress [...] turn yellow, for example in flower bulbs. At first, the plants recover during the night, but later the plants wilt irreversibly. In potted plants the flower

• Bacterial canker of tomato

  the plants in greenhouse crops and by water in field crops, for example through splashes of rain or irrigation. Both in greenhouses and in the field, spraying [...] General Clavibacter is a quarantine organism in Europe, which means that strong efforts are used to prevent the bacterium from entering. When the occasional [...] eradicate the infection. In tomato, growers must either destroy the infected crop entirely or, if the crop is old, only the plants in the infected area, with

• Thrips

  cause problems in agriculture and horticulture. Thrips are small insects (0.5-14 mm), with the largest species found in the tropics. In temperate regions [...] Biological control of thrips Thrips are among the most challenging pests in greenhouse and field crops. Their feeding and virus transmission cause leaf [...] actively control thrips larvae and pupae, while beneficial nematodes target pupae in the soil. Sticky traps and kairomones support early detection and population

• Damping-off

  aphanidermatum mostly occurs in young plants and damage is more extensive in young crops. Damage symptoms Pythium affects roots, in particular those of seedlings [...] General Pythium is considered a ‘weak pathogen’, meaning that it can usually only affect plants that are in a sub-optimal condition or suffer from stress [...] temperatures or sudden fluctuations in temperature. Pythium aphanidermatum mostly occurs at higher temperatures in the soil or irrigation water. Pythium

• Southern blight

  was first observed in tomato crops in Florida in 1892, and it has been regularly reported as causing rotting to the root and stem in tomato plants. Significant [...] surface of the stem. In favourable conditions, the sclerotia can germinate in two forms, hyphal or eruptive, causing infection in the plants. The sclerotia [...] The sclerotia have a resistance structure resulting in longevity of more than five years in the soil, in a dry environment. Both the sclerotia and the mycelium

• Mealybugs and scales

  fruit are concerned, these often drop off; plant sap is low in proteins and rich in sugars. In order to gain an adequate intake of protein, mealybugs must [...] scales also produce honeydew (on which moulds grow) resulting in considerable damage in ornamental and fruit crops and loss of value. Armoured scales do [...] sale, and the reduced level of photosynthesis in the leaves also reduces flower and fruit production; in ornamental crops, the mere presence of mealybugs

• Plant Disease Management

  rotation Crop rotation is a fundamental strategy, which means avoiding planting the same crop in the same location year after year. Rotating crops disrupts [...] suppress or control plant pathogens, which are microorganisms that cause diseases in plants. The primary goal of biological control is to reduce the damage caused [...] diseases pose a significant threat to global food production. They can result in yield losses, increased production costs, and environmental damage. As we