Search

Industrial hemp is Cannabis sativa that contains < 0.3% THC and can be legally grown with permits in Florida. The plant may be grown for flower, grain, or fiber production. Other than the lower THC levels, hemp is the same plant botanically as marijuana. Because this plant has long been on the Schedule 1 controlled substance list in the U.S. (United States), knowledge of pests and diseases is limited, and labelled control measures are almost non-existent. This publication provides information and general management recommendations for hemp diseases found in Florida. Management options are currently limited as there is a lack of resistant varieties and other management strategies for industrial hemp production.

Chapter 17 of the Vegetable Production Handbook of Florida

Chapter 7 of the Vegetable Production Handbook of Florida

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), cantaloupe or muskmelon (Cucumis melo), squash (Cucurbita pepo), bitter gourd (Momordica charantia), and cucumber (Cucumis sativa) are commonly grown throughout Florida on both commercial farms and home gardens, while pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima) production is largely limited to north Florida. Anthracnose on cucurbits, caused by the fungus Colletotrichum orbiculare, is a common disease that occurs worldwide and throughout Florida. While all cucurbits are susceptible to the disease, cucumber, cantaloupe, and watermelon are most frequently affected. This EDIS document provides information regarding the pathogen, disease cycle, diagnostics and symptoms, and an overview of management of this disease on cucucurbits.

Chapter 10 of the Vegetable Production Handbook.

Chapter 6 of the Vegetable Production Handbook.

Chapter 1 of the Vegetable Production Handbook for Florida

Watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai] growers choose transplanting dates every year considering multiple risk factors. Earlier harvests linked to earlier planting typically find more favorable markets, but earlier planting has higher risk of freeze damage. Research also indicates that risk of fusarium wilt (caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum) is higher during cooler weather, adding to the risk of planting earlier. Thus, growers need to balance market risk (e.g., getting a low price) and production risk (e.g., lower harvest or higher cost due to freezing temperatures or disease) in selecting a planting date. The objective of this analysis is to examine the effect of planting date on the distribution of potential economic returns and evaluate whether late planting could be a favorable risk-management strategy. Probability distributions are estimated for key risk factors based on input from watermelon growers, published price data, historical freeze data, experiment station trials, and expert discussions. The distribution of economic returns is then simulated for three planting windows (early, middle, and late) using simulation software. Results demonstrate planting date risk–return tradeoffs and indicate that late planting is unlikely to be preferable to middle planting, even when risk of fusarium wilt is high.

Fusarium wilt of watermelon, caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum, is a threat to watermelon production in Florida. While a number of management options are available, numerous factors influence which management strategies are feasible for growers. This new 4-page publication of the UF/IFAS Plant Pathology Department introduces a tool that calculates the estimated risk of Fusarium wilt based on potential management strategies and environmental factors. This tool is intended for use by watermelon growers in Florida and should be helpful in advising them on management decisions. Written by Matthew Cullen, Daniel Perondi, Clyde Fraisse, and Nicholas Dufault. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pp364

This publication describes a sample watermelon production budget for a spring season in north Florida. We estimate costs for fixed assets, equipment operation, labor, materials, services, harvesting and marketing. We also estimate yield and potential returns. A budget summary and sensitivity table are provided. A spreadsheet that can serve as a budget template accompanies the manuscript.

Fusarium wilt of watermelon is one of the most serious and difficult diseases to manage and occurs in most production regions worldwide. The fungus can be seedborne and has great longevity in the soil, allowing infested soil to also serve as a source of infection. This new 4-page publication of the UF/IFAS Plant Pathology Department signs, symptoms, and the disease cycle of Fusarium wilt and provides recommendations for cultural and chemical management. Written by Pamela Roberts, Nicholas Dufault, Robert Hochmuth, Gary Vallad, and Mathews Paret. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pp352

Snap bean is an important vegetable crop in Florida. It is produced in all regions of the state. Bush snap beans dominate commercial plantings, but pole beans are also produced, primarily in Miami-Dade County. Midwinter bean production, the most profitable for Florida, is centered in the Homestead, southwest Florida, and Belle Glade areas. Based on the 2012 US Census of Agriculture (NASS, USDA), snap bean is an economically important vegetable crop in Florida with a total of 33,338 acres harvested in 2012. Miami-Dade County ranked second in snap bean production in the United States with a total of 11,126 acres. Because of Florida's warm and wet weather, many diseases affect snap beans. Disease management is an important component in successful snap bean farming. Despite vigorous control efforts, substantial losses in yield and quality can still occur. This publication suggests a sequential disease control program for snap beans in Florida. Postharvest disease problems are addressed only to the extent that they are affected by field practices. The application of the following sequential control program should minimize yield losses for the majority of plantings. This revision is by Shouan Zhang, Nicholas Dufault, Mathews Paret, Pamela Roberts, Guodong Liu, and Qingren Wang.

A bacterium called “Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum” infects potatoes and tomatoes, causing zebra chip in potatoes and psyllid yellows in tomatoes. These diseases are highly destructive and have been known to reduce yields by up to 85%. “Ca. L. solanacearum” has been reported in several states, though it has not been detected in Florida, which is the second largest producer of tomatoes and seventh largest producer of potatoes in the US. This 9-page fact sheet covers the biology, distribution, symptoms, transmission, diagnosis, and management of the pathogen and its associated diseases. Written by Binoy Babu, Mathews L. Paret, Nicholas Dufault, and Carrie L. Harmon, and published by the UF Department of Plant Pathology, August 2015. PP320/PP320: "Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum": An Emerging Pathogen Infecting Potato and Tomato (ufl.edu)

Brassica carinata is a promising oilseed crop with great potential for profitable cultivation in Florida. Its high oil content and favorable fatty acid profile make it suitable for the biofuel industry, especially as a biojet fuel. The UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center (NFREC) in Quincy, Florida, has been working to identify advanced carinata genotypes that are high yielding (seed and oil), disease resistant, early maturing, and adapted to Florida. The work at NFREC is being done in conjunction with Agrisoma Biosciences Inc., a crop company that has the world’s largest collection of carinata germplasm. This 6-page fact sheet’s “Agronomic Management” section provides recommendations resulting from NFREC’s research. It was written by C. M. Bliss, R. Seepaul, D. L. Wright, J. J. Marois, R. Leon, N. Dufault, S. George, and S. M. Olson, and published by the UF Department of Agronomy, December 2014. SS-AGR-384/AG389: Carinata, the Sustainable Crop for a Bio-based Economy: 2018–2019 Production Recommendations for the Southeastern United States (ufl.edu)

Higher wheat prices created the impetus for growing wheat in the southeastern United States. Since increasing amounts of corn have been diverted to ethanol production, there is a shortage of grain for America’s livestock industry. This shortage results in higher wheat and soybean prices. Wheat and soybean have been grown together as a double crop throughout the Southeast for many years, which generally increases profitability compared with growing only one of the crops. Planting wheat followed by cotton, peanut or grain sorghum has also become a common practice. The best management practices for high yields of wheat in the Southeast Coastal Plain are well established. This 3-page fact sheet lists production practices for small grains in Florida. Written by D.L. Wright, A.R. Blount, R.D. Barnett, C.L. Mackowiak, N. Dufault, and J. Marois, and published by the UF Department of Agronomy, October 2013. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag293