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Common Diseases
Armillaria root rot
Botrytis blight (Gray mold)
Cankers
Crown gall
Damping-off
Dead roots
Dodder
Downy mildew
Dwarf mistletoe
Galls
Leaf spots and blights
Nectria cankers
Phytophthora root rot
Powdery mildew
Pseudomonas bacterial canker
Root rots
Rusts
Sclerotinia white mold
Sudden oak death
Tubercularia canker
Verticillium wilt
Viruses
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Caption: Lettuce downy mildew
Photo by: R.S. Byther
Common Diseases : Downy mildew
(revision date: 4/30/2013)
Use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for successful plant problem management.
Biology
Downy mildew is a fungal disease of tender green tissues including leaves and shoots. Infected leaves show areas of slightly chlorotic to purplish red to dark brown discoloration on the upper surface. A light gray-brown feltlike growth develops on the undersides of infected leaves. Infected tissues become necrotic, and eventually die. Wet, humid conditions favor disease development. Under favorable conditions, the disease can spread quite rapidly, and the entire plant can droop and die. Many vegetables, ornamentals, flowers, and other plants including grapes and cereal crops are susceptible to downy mildew infections.
Management Options
Non-Chemical Management
Destroy infected plants and debris.
Select non-chemical management options as your first choice!
Chemical Management
IMPORTANT:
Visit Home and Garden Fact Sheets for more information on using pesticides
Fungicides may be effective in managing downy mildew in certain situations. However, the fungicide must be registered for the host plant. Contact your county extension agent for additional information.
Images
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Caption: Lettuce downy mildew
Photo by: R.S. Byther
Caption: Downy mildew on pansy
Photo by: R.S. Byther
Caption: Downy mildew on pansy
Photo by: R.S. Byther