Phytophthora on summer squash fruit
Symptoms of Phytophthora blight in summer squash
can progress rapidly from death of the growing tip to total plant collapse
and fruit rot. Affected fruit often are covered with spores of Phytophthora
capsici (sporangia) which look white and yeasty.
Photo courtesy of M.T. McGrath,
Long Island Horticultural Research and Extension Center
Cull fruit can easily become infected by Phytophthora capsici because
they are on soil, which is where this pathogen is. Infected cull fruit
can be a source of inoculum for Phytophthora blight in the crop, as occurred
in this field.
Photo courtesy of M.T. McGrath,
Long Island Horticultural Research and Extension Center