OSA is collaborating with universities and organic farmers to address Downy Mildew pressure on cucurbits in the eastern part of the US. The project takes a participatory plant breeding approach and spans five states (New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama) and includes three universities (Cornell, Auburn, and North Carolina State). Michael Mazourek of Cornell is the project lead and recently published variety trial reports for 2014 and 2015 on eOrganic. This trial data helped the project team identify varieties with strong resistance to Downy Mildew. Regional seed companies quickly responded to these findings by making some of the most promising open-pollinated varieties available to growers.
In the field right now are melons, cucumbers, and squash plots. Clemson University featured some of these trials as part of a field day on July 11th focused on managing cucurbit diseases and pests in organic systems. Learn more by contacting Kelly Flynn Gilkerson. Additional field days are planned for August in North Carolina. Contact OSA’s Tony Kleese for more information.
