Mow youngest stands first. This reduces the spread of pathogens by machinery from older, more diseased stands into healthier, younger stands. Mow after the dew has dried, because pathogens are spread easily in water films. When stands are hit hard by leaf spots, mow a few days earlier than usual to retain more leaves and reduce inoculum levels in the field. Maintain a cutting schedule that ensures the recharging of root carbohydrates both during the growing season and before fall dormancy.
Wilt diseases can cause severe stand losses in Pennsylvania.
Bacterial, Fusarium, and Verticillium wilts occur statewide, with Fusarium wilt worse in southern counties and Verticillium wilt worse in northern counties. Resistance to all these wilts is available in current varieties and is necessary for maximum production. Anthracnose is a fungus disease that occurs statewide and is particularly severe in southeastern Pennsylvania. The causal fungus often cannot overwinter in the field, but it does so in infected plant debris on equipment in storage. Therefore, cleaning equipment before storing it for the winter helps delay the introduction of this pathogen into young seedlings in the spring.