URBANA-CHAMPAIGN, Ill., May 10 (UPI) -- Illinois researchers say they've found chemicals have limited effects on the deadly crop blight known as Phytophthora capsici or pumpkin blight.
The researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign say while controlling the blight is not possible, rotating crops that are not susceptible to the disease may be the only available solution.
The researchers say there are no known resistant varieties to help a vegetable such as pumpkin withstand an attack.
In a recent study, 45 species of crop and weed plants were screened for their susceptibility to P. capsici. Although 22 crop species succumbed to the disease, 14 did not because they had been rotated.
Plant pathologist Mohammad Babadoost said rotating the 14 resistant vegetable varieties may serve to wait out the pathogen until it is safe to once again plant pumpkins or other crops susceptible to P. capsici.
"Crop rotation is already being used by pumpkin growers as an important component of disease management," Babadoost said. "Most pumpkin growers in Illinois follow at least a short-term crop rotation. However, most growers have experienced heavy losses when carrot, lima beans, pea, pepper, snap bean, and tomato were grown prior to pumpkin."
