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Re: Bacteriological or Fungal?

Chris Andersen wrote:
> 
> Hi All,
> 
> In listening to everyone this year battle wounds in their pumpkins as a
> result of cracks, splits, rodents etc., it sounds as if some have had
> success using anti-fungal compounds such as captan or similar, to arrest
> further deterioration of their fruit, while others have not had any
> success.
> 
> I am wondering out loud here what possibilities there are that those who
> have not had success using anti-fungal treatments, may not have had fungal
> problems, rather bacteria of one form or another that has attacked the
> wound or caused the stem to begin to rot.
> 
> If bacteria is the cause what recommended treatments are there for dealing
> with bacteria? Wouldn't it be advisable to use both a anti-fungal and
> anti-bacteria treatment for wounds or stem rot? I imagine bleach at a
> dilution ratio of 10% could be used, however bleach is phytotoxic and could
> cause additional problems, I would think?
> 
> Chris Andersen
> Moraga, Calif.

Chris,

When I saw the grey-black fungus throughout the seed cavity of my
largest pumpkin after it developed a TINY crack and then rotted in the
field despite treatment with Captan and Daconil, there was no doubt in
my mind that it was killed by a fungus.  In an infection of any kind, if
the numbers of infecting organisms is too great then no amount of
medication will be enought to effect a cure without killing the
patient/pumpkin.  Prevention is worth a pound of cure, and early cure is
the only real hope once infection has set in.  In other words, there
reaches a point in any fungal infection where all the fungicide in the
world will not be enough to halt the progression of the disease.

Hope this is useful,
Chris Wilbers
Sioux Falls, SD
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