PPFS-GH-3: Fungicides for Management of Diseases in Commercial Greenhouse Ornamentals

Nicole Gauthier | March 25, 2021 (Minor Revision)

This guide is a decision-making tool to help growers select fungicides from different chemical classes (FRAC). Additional information can be found in a number of UK Cooperative Extension Service publications or by contacting county Extension agents.

PPFS-FR-S-5: Strawberry Anthracnose Fruit and Crown Rot

Nicole Gauthier, Shawn Wright | March 22, 2021 (Major Revision)

Anthracnose can be a serious problem in Southern and Midwestern strawberry plantings. The disease may appear as a fruit or crown rot, both of which severely reduce plant stands and yields. Fruit rot, the most common form of anthracnose, appears as fruit begins to ripen in late spring. Crown rots, on the other hand, can develop in young plants soon after planting or when weather warms in spring.

PPFS-OR-W-14: Fungicides for Management of Landscape Woody Ornamental Diseases

Nicole Gauthier | March 20, 2021 (Minor Revision)

This guide is a decision-making tool to help growers select fungicides from different chemical classes (FRAC). Additional information can be found in a number of UK Cooperative Extension Service publications or by contacting county Extension agents.

PPFS-FR-T-16: Sooty Blotch and Flyspeck of Apple

Nicole Gauthier | January 26, 2021 (New)

Sooty blotch and flyspeck (SBFS) is a common late summer disease complex. The resulting superficial blemishes do not cause fruit decay, but they can reduce market value for commercial produce. Infections of the waxy cuticle can also shorten storage life, as it allows for accelerated desiccation during refrigerated storage.

PPFS-FR-S-6: Rust Diseases of Brambles

Nicole Gauthier, Jessica Sayre | January 5, 2021 (Major Revision)

The three most important rust diseases occurring on brambles in Kentucky are cane and leaf rust, late rust, and orange rust. The most destructive of these diseases is orange rust, which is ultimately lethal to plants. Once infected, entire plants must be removed and destroyed. In contrast, cane and leaf rust, along with late rust, are not lethal to plants and can be managed using cultural practices and fungicides. Distinguishing between these rust diseases is critical for proper management.

PPFS-GH-7: Cleaning and Sanitizing Commercial Greenhouse Surfaces

Samantha Anderson, Nicole Gauthier, Josh Knight, W. Owen | August 3, 2020 (New)

Greenhouse and nursery sanitation practices help prevent the introduction and spread of plant diseases and pests, as well as eliminate safety hazards. In general, being proactive in maintaining a clean growing environment will often be less expensive and more effective than reacting to a disease or pest issue after it emerges.

PPFS-OR-W-28: Laurel Wilt Disease and Redbay Ambrosia Beetle

Ellen Crocker, Tyler Dreaden, Nicole Gauthier, Jonathan Larson, Kimberly Leonberger | July 8, 2020 (New)

Laurel wilt is a newly discovered fungal disease that presents a major threat to sassafras in Kentucky. The disease was first detected in the U.S. in 2003 and in southwestern Kentucky in 2019. Currently, laurel wilt is known to occur in eleven southeastern states bordered by Kentucky (north), North Carolina (east), Florida (south), and Texas (west). Research is ongoing to determine the impact and distribution of both the laurel wilt fungus and the redbay ambrosia beetle that carries it.

PPFS-GEN-17: Cleaning and Disinfecting Home Garden Tools and Equipment

Kara Back, Nicole Gauthier, Kimberly Leonberger | June 26, 2020 (New)

Dirty tools, containers, and surfaces come as no surprise to home gardeners (Figure 1). Rinsing with water to remove obvious soil or plant residues is a common practice. However, this type of basic cleaning can fail to remove microscopic plant pathogens that can remain on surfaces. Tools, containers, shoes, and surfaces should also be disinfected to remove fungal, bacterial, and viral plant pathogens to prevent transmission to healthy plants.

ID-260: An IPM Scouting Guide for Common Problems of Peach in Kentucky

Ric Bessin, Nicole Gauthier, Cheryl Kaiser, Matthew Springer, John Strang, Shawn Wright | June 8, 2020 (New)

Long before the term "sustainable" became a household word, farmers were implementing sustainable practices in the form of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies. IPM uses a combination of biological, cultural, physical, and chemical methods to reduce and/or manage pathogen and pest populations. These strategies are used to minimize environmental risks, economic costs, and health hazards. Pathogens and pests are managed (although rarely eliminated entirely) to reduce their negative impact on the crop. Scouting and monitoring for diseases, insects, weeds, and abiotic disorders helps identify potential problems before serious losses result. This is essential to the IPM approach. The key to effective monitoring is accurate identification. The images included in this guide represent the more common abiotic and biotic problems that occur in Kentucky peach plantings.

PPFS-GEN-6: Mulch Mushrooms, Slime Mold, and other Saprophytes

Nikki Bell, Nicole Gauthier, Cheryl Kaiser | June 4, 2020 (Major Revision)

Organic mulches, such as shredded cypress and pine bark, are commonly used in commercial and home landscapes. Mulches provide numerous benefits, including conservation of soil moisture and suppression of weeds, as well as offer a visually pleasing background for landscape plantings. However, mulch is also a substrate for a diverse group of saprophytic organisms (saprobes), such as mushrooms and slime molds. While often causing alarm to gardeners unfamiliar with them, saprobes do not infect plants or cause plant diseases.