Andy Wyenandt, Assistant Extension Specialist in Vegetable Pathology, Rutgers University; wyenandt@aesop.rutgers.edu
All seed used in transplant production as well as any transplants brought into the greenhouse should be certified “clean” or disease-free. Important diseases such as bacterial leaf spot of pepper and tomato can cause major problems in transplant production if introduced into the greenhouse. Bacterial leaf spot of pepper and tomato can be seed-borne and infested seed can be a major source of inoculums in the greenhouse and cause problems in the field later in the growing season. As a rule for any crop, any non-certified or untreated seed should be treated, if applicable, with a Clorox treatment, or hot water seed treatment, or dusted to help minimize bacterial or damping-off diseases. For more information on seed treatments for specific crops please see Table E-13 on page E46 in Section E of the 2010 Delaware Commercial Vegetable Production Guide.
An updated table for selected fungicides and bactericides labeled for greenhouse use is available in Section E of the 2010 recommendations guide. The table includes a comprehensive list of fungicides and biological agents approved for greenhouse use. Table E-14 can be found on pages E47-48 of the 2010 Delaware Commercial Vegetable Production Guide.