more... > Plant Disease Clinic > Fact Sheets > Louisiana Plant Pathology: Shealth Blight of Rice [Image: shealth blight] Sheath blight has been the most economically significant disease of rice in Louisiana since the early 1970s. The disease is caused by a fungal pathogen of both rice and soybeans. This fact sheet describes the symptoms of the disease and gives suggested management procedures. Nematodes in Sweet Potato [Image: Sweet potato with root-knot nematode] Nematodes are a serious pest to both our sweet potato industry and for those people growing them in a home garden. These pests affect the total production and quality of the sweet potato. Since the damage occurs to roots below ground, they are often not recognized as being a problem. Louisiana Plant Pathology: St. Augustine Decline [Image: st. augustinegrass] St. Augustine disease is a virus disease that affects St. Augustine grass across the Gulf States. This fact sheet describes the disease and how to mange it. Color photos are included. (PDF Format Only) Louisiana Plant Pathology: Scurf of Sweet Potato [Image: scurf] Scurf is a common disease of sweet potatoes. Proper identification is the key to successful disease management. Use this fact sheet to help you identify and manage this disease. (PDF Format Only)  more articles... Sooty Mold [Image: mold] Sooty mold, caused by Capnodium sp., is the result of a nonplant pathogenic fungus that grows superficially as a thin black layer on leaves, fruit, twigs and stems of various crop plants or trees. This fungus grows on the honeydew produced by insects with piercing-sucking mouthparts. The insects, including aphids, mealy bugs, scales and whiteflies, pierce the plant tissue with their stylets and suck cell sap. Louisiana Plant Pathology: Reniform Nematode [Image: reniform nematode] During the past two decades, the reniform nematode has emerged as one of the most important nematode species of plant crops in Louisiana. It attacks a wide range of plant types and is particularly damaging to crops such as cotton, sweet potato, soybeans and many vegetables. Symptoms, management strategies and color images included. (PDF Format Only) Mole Crickets [Image: Mole Crickets] Mole crickets cause millions of dollars in turf and grass damage each year. Their burrowing in the soil breaks up the soil and causes roots to dry out. Identification, life cycle and control included. Get the Facts about Citrus Greening (or Huanglongbing) [Image: citrus greening] Citrus greening is one of the most serious citrus diseases, and a pest responsible for spreading it has now been found in Louisiana. Information on what to look for and where to look, what plants are preferred by the disease and where to report suspected disease symptoms or insect sightings. Citrus Greening (or Huanglongbing) Identification Card [Image: citrus greening] Identification of citrus greening and the Asian citrus psyllid. Nematode Management in Louisiana Sweet Potato Production [Image: nematodes in sweet potatoes] Plant-parasitic nematodes can damage plants in many ways and are considered to be a serious threat to sweet potato production in Louisiana. This publication describes problematic nematode species and management strategies available for these pests. Louisiana Plant Pathology: Southern Root-knot Nematode on Vegetables [Image: southern root-knot nematode] The southern root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) is a widespread problem in Louisiana. This pest favors the soils where most vegetables are produced and has been found in about 25 percent of the vegetable gardens in our state. This nematode can be extremely damaging to some crops and causes severe losses. (PDF Format Only) Louisiana Plant Pathology: Sclerotial Blight and Circular Spot of Sweet Potato [Image: sweet potatoes] Sclerotium rolfsii is a soilborne fungus that causes southern blight on a wide variety of plants. Proper identification is the key to successful disease management. This fact sheet is intended to aid in the identification and management of Sclerotial Blight and Circular Spot. (PDF Format Only) Louisiana Plant Pathology: Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl [Image: tomato yellow leaf curl] Tomato yellow leaf curl is a relatively new whitefly-transmitted virus disease of tomatoes in the United States. It was first observed in South Florida in 1997 and has since spread throughout much of the Southeast, including Louisiana where it was first observed in 2000. Proper identification is the key to successful disease management. This fact sheet is intended to aid in the identification and management of this disease of tomatoes. (PDF Format Only) Disease Management in Home Vegetable Gardens [Image: home vegetable gardnes] This publication is intended to introduce home vegetable gardeners to the various methods used to manage the many diseases that affect these crops. (PDF Format Only) Click for more information...