Management of Alternaria Leaf Blight of Carrot for Florida Conventional and Organic Producers
Chun-Hsiang (Sean) Wang, Mason J. Newark, Nicholas S. Dufault, Jeffrey A. Rollins, Fanny B. Iriarte, Robert Hochmuth, Danielle Treadwell, andMathews Paret
Alternaria leaf blight is a persistent and economically damaging foliar disease of cultivated carrot in Florida, capable of causing disease severity up to 95% and leading to significant yield loss through defoliation and mechanical harvest failure. This publication provides commercial carrot producers, county Extension faculty, crop consultants, and other agricultural professionals with current information on the disease. Integrated management strategies are detailed, including cultural controls, certified seed selection, and specific fungicide programs tailored for both conventional and USDA-certified organic production systems. Emphasis is placed on proper disease diagnosis and fungicide resistance management to assist producers in making effective management decisions.
