Fruit Rots on Pumpkins, Gourds, and Winter Squashes, Black rot and Anthracnose on Cucurbita sp.
Keinath Lab @ Clemson University
Plant Health 2024
Five Fusarium wilt management strategies
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.
Watermelon Field Day
7/11 – Watermelon Field Day – Edisto REC, 64 Research St, Blackville, SC 29817 – 8:00 am-2:00 pm – RSVP to gmllr@clemson.edu
Watermelon Fungicide Guide | Clemson
Four foliar diseases reduce watermelon yields in South Carolina. Gummy stem blight and powdery mildew are the most common diseases in spring crops.
Managing Fusarium wilt in watermelon
Growing susceptible cultivars will infest fields with a higher level of Fusarium each time they are planted, leading to long-term problems with Fusarium wilt. Grafting is the most effective option.
South Carolina Grower Update | June 17, 2024
Watermelons are just starting to be harvested and the quality is good. Extension Agents are seeing some diseases in melons and squash, particularly gummy stem blight. Anthracnose is starting to cause a few problems for growers.
SC Grower Exchange Podcast
In this podcast, Professor of Plant Pathology Research and Extension Vegetable Pathologist, Dr. Anthony Keinath discusses recent observations and tips for dealing with fusarium wilt, specifically in watermelons.
