Rotate greens with crops that are not in the "mustard family": broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collard, kale, kohlrabi, leaf mustard, radish, turnip, and water cress.

Do not plant in fields with a history of club-root.

Take soil samples in the fall to determine the need to treat the soil for nematodes (see Table 1). Fertilizer and lime needs can be determined at this time.

Obtain seed of high quality that have been grown under disease-free conditions and treated by the seed producer to reduce damping-off.

Destroy weeds in the field and those bordering the field early in the spring before the greens have come up, or spray the weeds with an approved insecticide to avoid aphid transmitted virus diseases. it is important to destroy all wild mustard and related weeds and volunteer plants from a previous crop in the mustard family.

Spray plants with sulfur if powdery mildew is present (see Table 1).

As soon as the crop is harvested, disc the field twice, ten days apart and seed a cover crop.

If a problem occurs, be sure to contact your county agricultural extension agent. He can often diagnose the problem and suggest corrective measures for that crop or suggest measures to avoid the problem in the future.

Anthracnose leafspot is caused by the fungus Colletotrichum higginsianum. The disease can be recognized by the presence of small, rounded spots with dry, generally straw-colored centers on the leaves, petioles and stems. This disease is favored by relatively warm weather and is usually the first disease to appear in the spring.

White spot is caused by the fungus Cercosporella brassicae, and the disease can be recognized by the large, irregular, spots on the leaves, almost white in color. Cotyledons, petioles, and seed pods may also be involved. The disease is favored by cool temperatures, 12.5 to 24.0 degrees C (55 to 75 degrees F). Consult the current edition of the NC Agricultural Chemicals Manual for currently labeled disease control materials.

Alternaria leafspot or brown spot is caused by the fungus Alternaria brassicae. The disease can be recognized by the presence of brown, round spots which often have concentric rings. Usually the spotting is more prevalent on older leaves, and the spots may enlarge to over an inch in diameter. The fungus may also cause damping-off by infecting the small stems shortly after emergence. The disease is most severe during the coolest part of the season.

Downy mildew, caused by the fungus Peronospora parasitica, can be recognized initially by the presence of a white, downy type of mold on the underside of lower leaves. Later, a slight yellowing occurs on the top side of the leaves in poorly delineated spots; eventually the affected area and entire leaves become blighted. Characteristically small, black sunken lesions or streaks can be seen initially in the affected leaf tissue. The disease is favored by cool, wet weather. The disease is very common in North Carolina on all mustard family crops; however, it is only occasionally a major problem.

Powdery mildew, caused by the fungus Erysiphe polygoni, is recognized by the presence of extensive white powdery fungal growth, principally on the upper surfaces of new and old foliage. It is favored by prolonged dry periods with cool nights. Its occurrence is infrequent but is usually sudden. Sulfur sprays are effective.

Black rot is a bacterial disease caused by Xanthomonas campestris and is recognized by "V-shaped," bright yellow to orange areas on the margins of the leaves. The veins become black. The disease is seed-borne, and it is important to obtain seed from areas where the disease does not occur. Once the disease is present, it is important to limit spread by entering the field only when the plants are dry. See Vegetable Disease Information Note No. 16.

Mosaic is usually caused by the Turnip Mosaic Virus, and it is transmitted by winged aphids. Other viruses such as Cucumber Mosaic and Southern Celery Mosaic may be involved. It is recognized by poor growth of plants with a mosaic pattern of light green on the normal green color of leaves, and by crinkling and distortion of leaves. Control is based on destroying the overwintering reservoirs of the viruses by destroying wild and volunteer plants in the mustard family, and by killing the overwintering aphids.

Damping-off is caused by different soil-borne fungi such as Pythium spp., Rhizoctonia solani and others. The disease is recognized by poor emergence and by seedlings that rot at the soil line. The occurrence of this disease is sporadic and is dependent on weather conditions, usually wet weather. The control is based on the use of seed treated with a fungicide by the seedsman, proper seeding depth, and in some cases treating the soil with a multi-purpose soil fumigant.

Wire stem and stem rots are caused by Rhizoctonia solani and soft rot bacteria Erwinia spp. respectively. Wire stem is recognized by the drying up of the stem near the soil; the control is similar to that mentioned under damping-off. Stem rot affects collards and is recognized by a soft, wet, and smelly rot in the pith of the stem. It is favored by hot weather. Because the disease is often associated with burrowing larvae of insects, an effective preventative insecticide program will minimize the disease. Vapam, Vorlex and Chloropicrin soil fumigants may help.

Club-root is caused by the soil-borne fungus Plasmodiophora brassicae. It is recognized by unthrifty plants that often wilt during the day; the presence of large galls or clubs on the roots is diagnostic. Turnips and mustard greens are usually not affected, but collards are quite susceptible. This is a serious disease because once present in the soil, the fungus can survive 5 to 10 years or longer in the absence of a host; it is limited to crops and weeds in the mustard family and possibly to a few other plants (see Vegetable Information Note No 17). The disease is not widespread in North Carolina and is confined to the counties in the northern mountains and to a few isolated farms throughout the state. It tends to be worse if soils are wet after planting. It is extremely important that plants be certified and free from the disease; under no circumstances should any lot of plants be set out if even a trace of the disease is present. In affected areas, incorporating 1500 pounds per acre of "quick lime," "builder's lime" (calcium hydroxide) immediately prior to setting plants will reduce the intensity of the disease. Contaminated fields often can be made safe by keeping them free from any crops and weeds in the mustard family for five years.

Nematodes, especially the root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita and others), are soil-borne but rarely cause problems because greens are normally grown when temperatures are cool. Nematode problems are usually recognized by unthrifty plants and by root systems that are considerably reduced in size and are brown or have galls or knots. A soil sample should be taken in the fall for a nematode assay. (See Extension Leaflet 187 or AG-40. Nematode assays can be obtained through the Nematode Advisory Section, Agronomic Division, North Carolina Department of Agriculture, Reedy Creek Road Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607. There is a fee for each sample.) Depending on the nematode problem, certain crop rotations can reduce the problem. Soils can also be treated with a fumigant-type nematicide such as Telone, DD, and Nemagon. Nemagon cannot be used for collards.

* Always use agricultural chemicals exactly as stated on the label of the container and only on the crops mentioned on the label.

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Plant Disease Information Notes Home Page
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Recommendations of specific chemicals are based upon information on the manufacturer's label and performance in a limited number of trials. Because environmental conditions and methods of application by growers may vary widely, performance of the chemical will not always conform to the safety and pest control standards indicated by experimental data. All recommendations for pesticide use were legal at the time of publication, but the status of registration and use patterns are subject to change by actions of state and federal regulatory agencies. 02/91/1000

Published by North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service. Distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914. Employment and program opportunities are offered to all people regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. North Carolina State University at Raleigh, North Carolina A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating.

Reformatted Dec. 2000 by A.V. Lemay