Incidence and crop damage is low. Several growers are reporting significant levels of fusarium crown rot on tomato . Damage is severe in some fields. Several respondents have observed reported that the incidence of fusarium crown rot seems to be higher than in past years. Fusarium wilt and rhizoctonia stem rot is being noted in potato , particularly on later plantings made in cool soils.
Incidence is low.
A number of viruses have been detected in pepper including pepper mild mottle virus, potato virus Y, potyvirus and tobacco etch virus. Several of these may be spread from older plantings and nearby Solanaceous weed hosts, such as nightshade, horse nettle and ground cherry by aphids. Use of insecticides to control aphids and use of JMS stylet oil to prevent transmission of virus is recommended. As reported in the last edition of the SW Florida Pest and Disease Hotline, pepper mild mottle is mechanically transmitted and may be spread by tying and harvest operations. Isolated cases of tomato mottle virus and tomato spotted wilt virus on tomato have been noted around Immokalee .