What Is It? | Facts in Depth | For the Professional Diagnostician
Anna L. Testen & Sally A. Miller
Phytophthora blight of cucurbits, caused by the fungus-like pathogen Phytophthora capsici, is an increasingly important disease of cucurbits. This disease affects all parts of cucurbit plants and can rapidly destroy fields of mature plants and cause postharvest fruit losses. This pathogen spreads rapidly in wet, waterlogged soils, so site selection and water management are critical for managing this disease.
Scientific Name
- Phytophthora capsici
Host Crops
- Cucumber
- Melon
- Squash
- Pumpkin
- Watermelon
Phytophthora blight symptoms on cucumber (top left); pumpkin (top middle); winter squash (top right); and pumpkin leaves (bottom left and middle); and sporangia from the pathogen under a microscope (bottom right).