Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) is a warm-season vegetable that can be grown throughout much of the United States. Together with winter squash, pumpkins are among the most-resistant of the cucurbits to certain diseases and insect damage. However, diseases such as Phytophthora fruit rot, Microdochium blight, Zucchini yellow mosaic, Fusarium rot and gummy stem blight are several common diseases that can severely affect pumpkin production.

Beans and peas are commonly affected by many diseases. If proper cultural practices, such as seed certification, use of resistant varieties, proper planting and crop rotation are followed, many of these problems can be avoided.

The pepper (Capsicum spp) originated in Mexico and surrounding areas of Central America. It is an excellent source of vitamin A, vitamin C and calcium. An important crop in commercial vegetable production, peppers have disease problems with which growers must be concerned.

Cucumber (Cucumis spp.), like other cucurbits (melons, squash, pumpkins, etc.), are attacked by several pathogens that can result in severe crop losses. Most damage is observed on cucumber leaves and stems. Fruits can also be severely affected, resulting in overall poor quality and yield, especially if disease has already weakened the plant.

Mustard (Brassica juncea ) is vulnerable to several diseases. The most serious ones include downy mildew, white rust, sclerotinia stalk rot (white mold), leaf spots and virus mosaic.

Solanum melongena L. (eggplant) is a member of Solanaceae family. This is frost-tender herbaceous perennial, usually grown as an annual plant. Diseases such as Verticillium wilt, Southern blight, Phomopsis blight, Anthracnose fruit rot and Altenaria blight are commonly associated with eggplant and can reduce its harvestable yield significantly.

Cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts and kale are some of the members of the crucifer family often referred to as cole crops. Several diseases are associated with these plants, including root and stem rots of young plants, black rot, downy mildew and viruses.

Like any other crop, squash is susceptible to a variety of diseases that attack below- and above-ground parts of the plant. Major squash diseases include gummy stem blight/black rot, scab, powdery mildew, nematodes and several viral diseases. Because many of the fungal, bacterial and nematode pathogens survive in soil and/or crop debris, crop rotation with non-cucurbit crops for at least three years is highly recommended.

During prolonged days of high temperatures and increased stress, plants try to maintain their water balance by reducing water loss through stomatal closure, which may result in foliage wilting, abnormal growth and, in severe cases, plant death.

Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) are host to many pathogenic organisms that can affect any plant part during the growing and storage seasons. Historically, certain diseases of potato have had significant socio-economical impact, like the Irish potato famine of the 1840s caused, in part, by Phytophthora infestans (late blight).