Nicholas Dufault

0000-0002-6173-2593

Disease Control for Snap Beans in Florida

Shouan Zhang, Nicholas Dufault, Mathews Paret, Pamela Roberts, Guodong Liu, and Qingren Wang

This publication suggests a sequential disease control program for snap beans in Florida. Postharvest disease problems are addressed only to the extent that they are affected by field practices. The application of the following sequential control program should minimize yield losses for the majority of plantings.

Management of Gummy Stem Blight (Black Rot) on Cucurbits in Florida

Mathews L. Paret, Nicholas S. Dufault, Mason Newark, and Joshua H. Freeman

Gummy stem blight (GSB) is a major disease of many cucurbits, including watermelon, cantaloupe, cucumber, pumpkin, squash, muskmelon, and other melons. The disease is also known as black rot due to its characteristic appearance on infected fruits. Learn the symptoms, causal agent and disease spread, and fungicides labeled for use in Florida.

Diseases of Bitter Melon in South Florida

Shouan Zhang, Nicholas Dufault, Qingren Wang, Guodong Liu, and Gene McAvoy

Vegetable Production Handbook of Florida, 2025–2026 edition

Nicholas S. Dufault, Shinsuke Agehara, Ramdas Kanissery, and Xavier Martini, editors

See here for the full downloadable PDF of the 2025–2026 Vegetable Production Handbook of Florida, as well as front-matter information and links to each chapter.

Management of Cucurbit Downy Mildew in Florida

Mason J. Newark, Mathews L. Paret, Nicholas S. Dufault, Pamela D. Roberts, Shouan Zhang, Gary E. Vallad, Josh Freeman, and Gene McAvoy

A UF/IFAS numbered Management. in support of UF/IFAS Extension program: Integrated Pest Management

Chapter 1. Commercial Vegetable Production in Florida

Nicholas S. Dufault, Shinsuke Agehara, Ramdas Kanissery, and Xavier Martini

Chapter 1 of the Vegetable Production Handbook of Florida

Fusarium Wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum) of Watermelon

Pamela Roberts, Nicholas Dufault, Robert Hochmuth, Gary Vallad, and Mathews Paret

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet for Commercial audience(s). in support of UF/IFAS Extension program: Integrated Pest Management

Chapter 4. Integrated Pest Management

Peter J. Dittmar, Nicholas S. Dufault, Johan Desaeger, Jawwad Qureshi, Nathan S. Boyd, and Mathews L. Paret

Chapter 4 of the Vegetable Production Handbook of Florida

Chapter 9. Leafy Vegetable Production

Germán Sandoya-Miranda, Ramdas Kanissery, Nicholas S. Dufault, Johan Desaeger, Anna Meszaros, Julien Beuzelin, Katia Viana Xavier, and Dennis C. Odero

Chapter 9 of the Vegetable Production Handbook of Florida

Florida Crop/Pest Management Profile: Watermelon

Wael M. Elwakil, Nicholas, S. Dufault, Joshua H. Freeman, and Mark A. Mossler

Florida is the only U.S. supplier of watermelons from December to April. Florida watermelons are harvested throughout the year, although the vast majority of production is harvested from May to July. This fact sheet profiles Florida watermelon crop production and pest management practices.

Cotton Cultural Practices and Fertility Management

David Wright, I. Small, and Nick Dufault

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet for Commercial audience(s).

Chapter 6. Cole Crop Production

Lincoln Zotarelli, Peter J. Dittmar, Nicholas S. Dufault, Johan Desaeger, Prissy Fletcher, Qingren Wang, and De-Fen Mou

Chapter 6 of the Vegetable Production Handbook of Florida

Anthracnose on Cucurbits in Florida

Pamela D. Roberts, Gary Vallad, Shouan Zhang, Nicholas Dufault, and Mathews Paret

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), cantaloupe or muskmelon (Cucumis melo), squash (Cucurbita pepo), bitter gourd (Momordica charantia), and cucumber (Cucumis sativa) are commonly grown throughout Florida on both commercial farms and home gardens, while pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima) production is largely limited to north Florida.  Anthracnose on cucurbits, caused by the fungus Colletotrichum orbiculare, is a common disease that occurs worldwide and throughout Florida. While all cucurbits are susceptible to the disease, cucumber, cantaloupe, and watermelon are most frequently affected. This EDIS document provides information regarding the pathogen, disease cycle, diagnostics and symptoms, and an overview of management of this disease on cucucurbits.

UF AgriGator Spray Program: Watermelon

Nicholas Dufault, Mathews Paret, Kiersten Fullem, Pamela Roberts, Gary Vallad, and Susannah Da Silva

This guide is intended as a resource for Extension agents and growers and contains information about common oomycete, fungal, and bacterial disease issues in watermelon production. It contains management considerations, information on commonly encountered diseases, and a suggested seasonal spray schedule tailored to specific disease concerns. This publication has been created using data from pesticide efficacy trials and input from experts in watermelon production.

Peanut Production Guide: Management and Cultural Practices for Peanuts

S. S. Sidhu, D. L. Wright, B. Tillman, N. Dufault, I. M. Small, I. L. Esquivel, Z. Grabau, H. Singh, E. Matcham, E. A. Borgato, J. Capasso, S. Kumar, and E. Carter

This publication discusses the current management and cultural practices for peanut production. This article is intended to share the latest information about peanut production and management with farmers, crop consultants, and Extension agents. Written by S. S. Sidhu, D. L. Wright, B. Tillman, N. Dufault, I. M. Small, I. L. Esquivel, Z. Grabau, H. Singh, E. Matcham, E. A. Borgato, J. Capasso, S. Kumar, and E. Carter, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agronomy, January 2026.

Chapter 10. Minor Vegetable Crop Production

Dakshina R. Seal, Qingren Wang, Ramdas Kanissery, Anna Meszaros, Crystal A. Snodgrass, Julien Beuzelin, Johan Desaeger, Nicholas S. Dufault, Katia Viana Xavier, and Shouan Zhang

Chapter 10 of the Vegetable Production Handbook of Florida

Chapter 17. Sweet Corn Production

Katia Viana Xavier, Ramdas Kanissery, Craig Frey, Anna Meszaros, Nicholas S. Dufault, Johan Desaeger, Jawwad Qureshi, and Julien Beuzelin

Chapter 17 of the Vegetable Production Handbook of Florida

Chapter 7. Cucurbit Production

Craig Frey, Nathan S. Boyd, Qingren Wang, Johan Desaeger, Jawwad Qureshi, Anna Meszaros, Nicholas S. Dufault, Pamela D. Roberts, and Xavier Martini

Chapter 7 of the Vegetable Production Handbook of Florida

Field Guide to Hemp (Cannabis sativa) Diseases

Kevin Korus, Wael Elwakil, Nicholas Dufault, and Zachary Eldred

Industrial hemp is Cannabis sativa that contains < 0.3% THC and can be legally grown with permits in Florida. The plant may be grown for flower, grain, or fiber production. Other than the lower THC levels, hemp is the same plant botanically as marijuana. Because this plant has long been on the Schedule 1 controlled substance list in the U.S. (United States), knowledge of pests and diseases is limited, and labelled control measures are almost non-existent. This publication provides information and general management recommendations for hemp diseases found in Florida. Management options are currently limited as there is a lack of resistant varieties and other management strategies for industrial hemp production.

Powdery Mildew on Watermelon in Florida

Pamela D. Roberts, Mathews Paret, and Nicholas Dufault

This document discusses the symptoms and management of powdery mildew, a problematic fungal disease, on watermelon in Florida.

Common Tomato High-Tunnel Production Diseases in Florida

Zachary D. Eldred, Shufang Tian, Gary E. Vallad, Xin Zhao, Mathews Paret, and Nicholas S. Dufault

This new 7-page article provides a concise overview of some influential high-tunnel tomato soilborne and foliar diseases and their cultural management techniques. Written by Zachary D. Eldred, Shufang Tian, Gary E. Vallad, Xin Zhao, Mathews Paret, and Nicholas S. Dufault and published by the UF/IFAS Plant Pathology Department.