SoCal Desert Plant Pathology

SoCal Desert Plant Pathology is a resource for growers, pest control advisors, and agricultural professionals in Southern California desert regions, offering science-based updates on plant diseases, diagnostic tips, management strategies, and the latest research. Content is developed by Ana M. Pastrana, UC Cooperative Extension Plant Pathology Advisor.

SoCal Desert Plant Pathology: Article

Iris Yellow Spot Virus (IYSV) Detected in Imperial Valley Onion Fields

April 27, 2026
By Ana Maria Pastrana Leon
Iris Yellow Spot Virus (IYSV) was a significant problem in bulb and seed fields in the Imperial Valley between approximately 2003 and 2012. Since then, growers and PCAs have reported limited occurrences, although symptoms can easily be misidentified as spray injury or other foliar diseases. In April 2026,…
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SoCal Desert Plant Pathology: Article

Emerging Viruses in Desert Cucurbits

March 31, 2026
By Ana Maria Pastrana Leon
Ana M. Pastrana1, Robert L. Gilbertson2, Tomás A. Melgarejo2, William M. Wintermantel3 1Plant Pathology Advisor, UCCE Imperial, Riverside, and San Diego; ampastrana@ucanr.edu; 2Department of Plant Pathology, UC Davis; 3USDA-ARS, Salinas  Over the past few seasons, we have seen significant…
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