FORECAST SUMMARY: Wednesday, July 4:
*** Forecast are abbreviated today for our July 4th holiday. A weather synopsis and disease development summary follows.
*** Disease Update - 2 July *** We have the first reports of blue mold from TN and the burley growing areas of Virginia. Blue mold has been discovered in Washington County in extreme southwest VA and Greene and Cocke Counties in northeast TN. All of these locations are in the southern Appalachian Mountains. Some infections appear recent, while others may have existed for a few weeks. In the Ohio Valley.... blue mold has now become well-established in Kentucky. Most of the state is under a blue mold watch, and infections have been confirmed in a number of counties. The current spore load is low in most locations, but higher near the outbreaks. Disease activity is expected to increase during periods of favorable weather as plant growth improves and the plant canopy closes.
*** A cold front will push into the eastern U.S. Wednesday and Thursday. *** Scattered showers and thunderstorms are a good bet both days for the growing areas east of the Mississippi River. However, southern Canada and parts of the Ohio Valley will be dry on Thursday since the front will have passed those areas. Transport from the sources along the east coast will be to the northeast and east. Trajectories from the mountains and the Ohio Valley will move generally east. All growing areas in the Ohio Valley, the southern Appalachian Mountains, and along the Eastern Seaboard are at Moderate to Strongly Moderate Risk of disease development Wednesday and Thursday. The southern Ontario growing areas remain at Low Risk.
*** We strongly encourage growers to monitor their plants for signs of disease. Diligent scouting and prompt reporting of blue mold are essential if one wishes to derive maximum benefit from the services we provide. ***
TK
HIGH RISK areas: None
Blue Mold Active in the Plant Bed and Greenhouse (click on small image for larger image)
What should one look for?
(Red = New, 1 to 7 days; Blue = Active, > 7 days; Green = Old)
Current Sources:
Previous Sources:
Papantla, Veracruz, Mexico
Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico
Uvalde, Texas
D'Hanis, Texas
Corpus Christi, Texas
Pinar del Rio, Cuba
***** NOTE: These forecasts/outlooks only apply to disease development from airborne transport of spores!!! We do not have the capability to ascertain blue mold development by other means, such as transplanting of infected seedlings, nor will we attempt to do so. Please consult the Extension Service personnel in your area if you have concerns about these matters! *****
This service is provided by the North Carolina State University departments of Plant Pathology and Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences.