Subsequent growth becomes severely distorted with leaflets along the mid-rib failing to expand properly resulting in a little leaf appearance. In addition, leaflets are twisted and distorted. Overall the appearance is reminiscent of viral or phenoxy herbicide symptoms. Most respondents have indicated that plants affected by little leaf have largely grown out of this condition over the past few weeks. This indicates a physiological rather than pathological cause for this condition, unfortunately there is no definitive test available for the diagnosis of little leaf.
Field sanitation is one of the most important tactics in vegetable pest and disease management .
The best thing that growers can do for themselves and their neighbors is to clean up crop residues promptly after harvest. Sanitation is an important IPM technique that should not be over looked as an effective, preventative tool against many vegetable pest and disease problems. Sanitation includes any practice that eradicates or reduces the amount of pathogen inoculum, pests, or weed seeds present and thus helps reduce or eliminate subsequent pest and disease problems. The prompt destruction of a crop at the end of the season will immediately end the production of disease inoculum and insects and eliminate the spread of diseases and pests to any other host plants in the vicinity. Downy and powdery mildew on melons can spread via wind from older, diseased plants to plants in surrounding fields that are still maturing.