A new watermelon line, developed by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Clemson University scientists, is serving as a solution against major disease and pests of watermelon crops in the southern U.S., says the USDA.
The innovative variety is a rootstock watermelon called Carolina Strongback. It is resistant to both Fusarium wilt and the southern root-knot nematode, according to William “Pat” Wechter, plant pathologist with the ARS U.S. Vegetable Research Laboratory (USVL) in Charleston, South Carolina.
This story was published by multiple news sources including NC State Extension, Morning Ag clips, and Vegetable and Specialty Crop News.
