Why Grafting Works Best When Fighting Fusarium Wilt on Watermelon
CucCAP plant pathologist, Anthony Keinath shares Fusarium wilt management strategies in this article at Growing Produce magazine. Management of Fusarium wilt of watermelon is one of the best examples of IPM.
Five practices can be used.
- Grafting is a stand-alone practice. It’s so effective that it’s not necessary to combine it with any other technique. The other four practices work best when combined.
- Cover cropping with vetch reduces the amount of Fusarium spores in soil.
- Delaying transplanting as long as possible. Soil temperatures above 78 to 81°F at 2- to 4-inch depths reduce the number of diseased plants.
- Choosing cultivars with resistance helps reduce the number of diseased plants in soils infested with Fusarium.
- The fifth technique is conventional fungicides.
