Category: Question of the Week
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Question of the Week – Brown Rot
What’s going on with this peach? This peach is completely covered with brown rot (Monilinia fructicola). Brown rot is one of the most significant diseases of peaches, plums, and nectarines. As the fruit is consumed by the fungi, it shrivels up into what’s known as a “mummy”. Mummified fruit falls to the ground and remains…
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Question of the Week – Japanese Beetle
Which insect caused the feeding damage to this collard leaf? While this chewing-type damage looks similar to caterpillar feeding damage, it was actually caused by a Japanese beetle. The hind end of the culprit is visible below. Japanese beetles are active and easy to find right now, feeding on a range of plants from roses…
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Question of the Week – Phytotoxicity
What caused the spots on these watermelon leaves? These mysterious brown spots were observed in several fields that had recently been treated by an airplane. At first glance, the small brown lesions resembled symptoms of a foliar disease. However, several observations suggested a non-pathogenic cause. The spots were only found in fields that had received aerial applications. Within affected fields, the…
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Question of the Week – Giant Swallowtail Caterpillar
Which of these two photos shows a caterpillar? Who knew that looking like poop could save your life? The orangedog (or giant swallowtail) caterpillar is a master at disguise, as witnessed in this photo. The photo on the right shows the caterpillar larvae, while the photo on the left shows bird feces. Not only does…
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June Grower Spotlight – Dorr Farms
Where is Daniel visiting this week? Dorr Farms is a family-owned produce farm in Gable, SC. Owners Maynard and Marie Dorr started the farm in 1996 by building two turkey barns and raising poults for Prestage Farms in Cassatt, SC. In 1999, Maynard started a one-acre garden, and then in 2001, Greg Harvey, a former…
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Question of the Week – Bird Damage
What happened to these blueberries Humans aren’t the only things that love blueberries. Birds treated these berries like a buffet. Birds are one of our biggest pests in blueberries. It is pretty common to find fruit with the skin torn and part of the flesh removed. Damage seems to be worse towards the top of…
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Question of the Week – Guttation
What causes these water droplets to form around the margins of these cantaloupe leaves? This interesting occurrence is known as guttation. Guttation is a biophysiocochemical and physiological phenomenon exhibited in many members of both the plant and fungi kingdoms. The root word “gutta” is Latin for drops and is commonly known as “leaf teardrops”. It is an accurate depiction of the “water” welling up in the plant and seeping from the tips, edges or…
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Question of the Week – Pineberry
Why is this strawberry white? A strawberry that isn’t red? Meet the pineberry. Pineberries (Fragaria × ananassa) may look unusual, but they’re closely related to the strawberries we all know and love. In fact, they share the same genus, though they are considered different species and types altogether. The modern pineberry traces its roots back…
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May Grower Spotlight – Watsonia Farms
Where is Sarah visiting this week? Watsonia Farms is a fourth-generation, organic fruit and vegetable farm located in Monetta, SC. Founded in 1918 by Joseph H. Watson, Sr., the farm started out growing asparagus. Watson also helped form the Monetta Asparagus Association, which helped the region become known as the “asparagus capital of the world”…
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Question of the Week – Stink Bug Damage
Why is this developing peach bleeding this gummy substance? The clear, gummy substance on this developing peach is called gummosis. Gummosis occurs when the fruit has been damaged mechanically or by disease, cold, or insects. The most likely culprit here is stink bugs. Damage may take more than a week to appear, so it is…
The South Carolina Grower 