Anoop A. Malik and Bhabesh Dutta, and team, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Georgia Tifton Campus, 2025
SquashRX is a newly developed mobile application aimed at helping growers, county extension agents, and crop consultants make informed decisions to predict risk of whitefly-transmitted viruses (WTVs) in squash production in Georgia. These viruses, primarily, cucurbit leaf crumple virus (CuLCrV), cucurbit yellow stunt disorder virus (CYSDV) and squash vein yellowing virus (SqVYV), have become serious threats to squash crops particularly grown during fall season, causing significant yield losses. Traditional management practices have often relied on calendar-based insecticide sprays or anecdotal planting schedules, but these approaches frequently fall short due to changing environmental conditions, fluctuating whitefly pressure, and lack of durable host resistance.
The SquashRX app bridges this gap by translating years of field research and machine learning into a user-friendly decision-support tool that offers predictive insights into the risk of occurrences of these viral pathogens. It is based on a scientifically-validated risk assessment index developed by researchers in Dutta’s lab at the University of Georgia, Tifton Campus. This research was led by Dr. Clarence Codod (former graduate student) in collaboration with Dr. Bob Kemerait (Extension Row Crop Pathologist). The index incorporates five critical factors known to influence whitefly and dynamics of WTVs: planting date, type of planting material (seed vs. transplant), type of squash (summer vs. winter squash), type of mulch (reflective vs. white), and use of row covers. Each factor contributes a specific number of risk points, and the app calculates a cumulative score that categorizes the risk as Low, Medium, or High. This system is built on a Random Forest model trained on multi-year, multi-location field trials’ data, and reflects the relative influence of each variable in determining infection risk. Among these factors, planting dates emerged as the most significant, with early plantings offering the highest potential for escaping peak whitefly activity.
SquashRX is designed for real-time use. A grower can quickly enter their planned practices such as planting date or whether they intend to use row covers which eventually show an immediate risk score. This enables comparison of different planting scenarios and empowers users to make more confident, data-driven decisions about when and how to plant their squash crop. What makes SquashRX particularly valuable is its practicality. It condenses complex epidemiological relationships into an app interface that requires no prior expertise in modeling or statistics. It is especially useful for county agents who need to provide site-specific recommendations during farm visits, or for growers exploring “what-if” planting configurations ahead of the season. The tool is currently optimized for seedling-based squash systems without row cover, reflecting the production practices prevalent in the Southeast. Future versions are expected to expand functionality by integrating weather data, supporting more crop types, and offering bilingual accessibility. SquashRX aligns with the broader goals of precision agriculture and integrated pest management by reducing frequency of insectide sprays and minimizing production risks.
The app is available for free download on the Google Play Store and is compatible with most Android devices. Its development represents an important example of translational research where university-generated knowledge is transformed into a tangible, field-ready resource. Through SquashRX, researchers and stakeholders are working together to protect squash production, promote sustainable practices, and strengthen grower confidence in the face of unpredictable pest and disease pressure. For more information or feedback on the app, users are encouraged to contact Dr. Bhabesh Dutta, Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, UGA in Tifton. The team welcomes suggestions and is committed to continuous improvement based on grower and agent needs.
Funding: This work was funded by the USDA-Specialty Crops Research Initiative (USDA NIFA SCRI grant 2018-03391). This study was partly funded by the USDA UGA Cooperative Agreement (58-6080-9-006 “Managing whiteflies and whitefly-transmitted viruses in vegetable crops in the southeastern U.S.”).