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San Diego

I just posted pic's my my diary of what I believe is watermelon mosaic? Can someone please confirm? All new growth on my 845 nesbitt has this and my two pumpkin will flower in a few days and are green and yellow. I believe my season is over unfortunately. This is my second re-start, the first plant got hit by a gopher and I believe watermelon mosaic also. Anything I grow in my soil gets mosaic. Don Langevin's book says watermelon mosaic over winters in the soil and the only solution is to grow elsewhere. Is this true? Can I grow on my property in a different place without getting it or not. I can let grass grow over my current patch. Need help please, thanks Jimmy

7/12/2004 12:48:45 AM

Back of Beyond

Jimmy,

It sure looks like mosaic to me. I got hit with it also in the satellite patch. But I letting them go to see what happens.

7/12/2004 11:45:09 AM

Utah

last year i thought i had mosaic in my patch. my leaves were two toned and look a lot like yours. Later in the season I took one leaf to my local county extention guys. They thought it was a virus but couldn't identify it for sure. This year I haven't seen it in my patch ( knock on wood) I think it might have been bacteria wilt from squash bugs... or i could have had that and some virus also. other growers in the area also had problems. Kenny B. thought it was some other disease. I forget which one. Virtciullium ... or something like that.

...the moral... it may or may not me mosaic ... if I were you i'd get a leaf tested at a good lab to find out what your dealing with, then maybe you'll have a chance at fighting it. and if it is not mosaic then you can grow next year in the same patch.
good luck !
gordon

7/12/2004 3:51:01 PM

Utah

here is what my leaves had last year. at first i thought it was heat stress.
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=12004

it eventually wiped out the entire patch.
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryView.asp?season=2003&grower=3085&action=L

7/12/2004 3:52:46 PM

Back of Beyond

See pics in my diary for "certified and tested" WMV pics

7/12/2004 6:00:27 PM

San Diego

can someone please give me a good lab to send a plant sample to? I have never done this before and need help. Thank you. Jimmy

7/12/2004 6:10:30 PM

[email protected]

Jimmy,

Just got off the phone & we're in.

Patricia Nolan, San Diego County Plant Pathologist
5555 Overland Drive, Building 3
San Diego, CA 92123
(858) 694-2753 8AM-4PM Monday-Friday

She was in the field when I called. So it is advised you call ahead before stopping in. Bring a live freshly cut sample of the infected plant. Zip-Loc Freezer bags are good for transport. Place the sample in the bag. Seal about 80% closed. Lightly squeeze most of the air out of the bag without really squishing the sample. Then breath into the bag to inflate like a balloon. Seal the rest of the way. Then your good for about 2-4 hours so long as the sample isn't left on the dashboard of a sun parked car.

This is not a commercial lab. So since they're spending taxpayer revenue, they might not make an actual slide unless there is good reason to believe a certain virus or disease is active.

If the claim not to have the resouces available to perform a certain test, please refer them to:

http://www.agdia.com/

Then email me directly.

7/13/2004 1:38:16 PM

[email protected]

One other thing. Neither all brown nor all green sample material. Try to clip a secondary that is demostrating both green & brown parts. I know this might mean a larger package for transport.

Good luck & keep us all posted.

Steve

7/13/2004 1:40:02 PM

San Diego

Tremor, thank you very much for your generousity and help! It is greatly appreciated. God bless, Jimmy

7/13/2004 5:30:00 PM