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Extension > Garden > Diagnose a problem > What's wrong with my plant? > Vegetable > Lettuce and Endive > Fuzzy growth on leaves

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Lettuce and Endive > Leaves > Fuzzy growth on leaves

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  • Image: Eastern Tent Caterpillar 1
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White Mold (aka lettuce drop)
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Sclerotinia minor

  • White cottony mold with small hard, black raisin like fungal structures can be seen at the base of the plant
  • Plant wilts and outer leaves drop to the ground
  • Base of the outer leaves are tan and water soaked
  • Rot progresses into the heart of the head
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  • Image: Forest Tent Caterpillar 1
  • Image: Forest Tent Caterpillar 2
  • Image: Forest Tent Caterpillar 3

Downy Mildew
Bremia lactucae

  • Fuzzy white growth can be seen on the underside of the leaves
  • Yellow to brown sunken angular leaf spots which are often restricted by leaf veins
  • Leaf tissue around the spots turns yellow
  • Infected leaves often rot from secondary fungi and bacteria
  • Older outer leaves most commonly affected
  • Common in cool wet weather
  • More information on Downy Mildew

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