University of Florida plant pathologists discuss watermelon breeding efforts for disease resistance to Fusarium wilt.”The key to eliminating fusarium wilt disease’s impact on watermelons in the Southeast is developing disease-resistance cultivars.”
UF/IFAS Extension
Extension assists watermelon industry with disease
The week of May 10, one such issue reared its head: Gummy stem blight, a fungal infection that affects the stems and leaves of watermelon plants, was found in several fields.
Downy Mildew Observed in North Florida Watermelons
University of Florida/IFAS Extension agents in the Suwanee Valley area are confident downy mildew disease is in the region’s watermelon crop. Producers need to spray for this disease, also known as “wildfire.”
Virus transmitting Whiteflies in Florida and Georgia | VSCNews
Whiteflies cause feeding injury issues in vegetables and transmit two viruses: cucurbit leaf crumple virus and cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus.
Managing Gummy Stem Blight in Watermelon | VSCNews
Gummy stem blight (GSB), also known as black rot, is a common issue for watermelon producers in the Southeast.
Fusarium wilt on watermelon
Fusarium oxysporum, f. sp. niveum Fusarium wilt causes wilting of the above ground tissue and general vine decline in watermelon. Typically, one side of the plant will exhibit more severe symptoms than the other, which is known as unilateral wilting. The fungus colonizes the vascular system causing discoloration that is visible if stems are cut […]
