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Fig rust is a fungus-caused disease, and the literature I have indicates that fig rust is rare in California. Control of rust on figs is going to be difficult. Very few good fungicides are registered for use on figs. In fact, my references list only two.
Fireblight symptoms usually occur in the spring, right after a rain or even a fog drizzle. Fireblight is a disease caused by a bacterium. The bacterium, Erwinia amylovora, survives from year-to-year in the tree. It becomes active in the spring when new foliage and blossoms are developing.
Honeydew (sticky leaves) and sooty mold (black leaves) are the by-products of aphid, scale, leafhopper or whitefly activity. All the above parasites are often tended by ants which gather the honeydew and also protect the pests from their natural enemies.
Late blight is caused by a fungus, Phytophthora infestans. The spores of this fungus may have come to your yard in the fog, they may be present in your yard in the garden soil, or you may have bought them at the garden store and brought them home on the seedling tomatoes.
As the name implies, it feeds on a number of plants including fruit trees, citrus, grapes, garden vegetables, ornamentals, and weeds. Damage in the home garden is usually light and sporadic. Usually, no control measures are needed or recommended.
The orange tortrix is a half-inch long worm at maturity. It is well adapted to cool coastal areas and may produce 2-3 generations per year. The first generation larva roll leaves and feed on the tissue inside the roll.
Leaf curl in peaches and nectarines is caused by a fungus. During the spring when leaves begin to grow, this fungus produces spores which infect the new leaves and young twigs.
There are seven genera of powdery mildews and several hundred species. The powdery mildew that attacks roses is not the same one that attacks apples, and the one on grapes is different than the one on oak trees, etc. Fortunately, the treatment for powdery mildews is all the same.
Pumpkins and other squashes are susceptible to several viruses, which are transmitted to the plants by aphids. The aphids that fly in to the planting are the ones that bring the virus from reservoir weeds, and other plants that harbor viruses in the area around your garden.
There are many species of nematodes of which a few hundred species attack plants and animals. Root knot nematode is a microscopic worm that is non-segmented, i.e., if you magnified it many times, it would look like a snake.
