FORECAST SUMMARY: Friday, June 4:
Disease Update - June 4, 2004: We have the first report of blue mold in Tennessee, plus another report from south-central Kentucky. Blue mold was discovered on Wednesday in 2 small parts of an outdoor float bed in Macon County in north-central TN. Plants in nearby beds and greenhouses do not yet show any symptoms. The bed was sprayed with Dithane and has not been destroyed. The grower will decide on a course of action once the extent of secondary spread can be determined. Blue mold was also reported from Logan County, KY, based on samples sent to the diagnostic lab at the University of Kentucky. Few details are available. The plants had been in an outdoor float bed and were yellowing when moved to a greenhouse and sprayed with Dithane. The samples submitted showed both new lesions and systemic development. Both of these outbreaks are questionable at this time. We may be adding a new source area next week, depending on how the situations develop.
Friday through Sunday:
The Weather... a low pressure system will affect the Southeast, mid-Atlantic, and eastern Ohio Valley on Friday, then move into the Northeast on Saturday. Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms are expected with this system. Another frontal system will begin forming in the High Plains today, moving eastward on Saturday and Sunday. Showery weather will affect portions of the Great Lakes and the Ohio Valley on Sunday. Mostly dry in between the two systems.
The Forecast... The area of greatest concern once again is the Ohio Valley.... There is Strongly Moderate Risk on Friday for central KY, with Low Risk elsewhere. Saturday's transport event is a Low Threat. On Sunday, mixed conditions for disease development will likely move into the region. Moderate Risk Sunday for central and eastern KY, southern OH, and western WV. At this time it looks as if the Sunday transport events from the Ohio Valley will be Low Threats to other regions, but this situation will be watched, and updates posted if necessary.
Elsewhere ... transport events from western Cuba and southern Texas present Low Threats to other regions Friday through Sunday.
TK
Areas at Strongly Moderate or HIGH Risk during the past week: Central KY, southern Ohio, southeast Indiana
Current Sources:
Previous Sources:
Papantla, Veracruz, Mexico
Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico
Local Weather in North Carolina is available from the WRAL-TV5 Weather Center, which also has links to other weather sites.
***** 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.