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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Pierce, Florida » U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory » Subtropical Plant Pathology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #209070
Title: Watermelon Vine Declines

Author
item EGEL, D. S. - PURDUE UNIVERSITY
item Adkins, Scott

Submitted to: Vegetable Grower
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/10/2007
Publication Date: 6/1/2007
Citation: Egel, D., Adkins, S.T. 2007. Watermelon Vine Declines. Vegetable Grower.

Interpretive Summary: The detection of Squash vein yellowing virus (SqVYV) in Indiana adds more information to our understanding of watermelon vine decline diseases. It is hoped that the descriptions of the symptoms, an explanation of the causes and a discussion of possible management options will be relevant to watermelon growers everywhere.

Technical Abstract: A number of diseases have been identified that cause the wilt, collapse and general decline of watermelon plants. These diseases occur in watermelon growing areas around the world and are generically referred to as vine declines. In the 1990’s, Monosporascus root rot was identified as a disease of both muskmelon and watermelon in the southwestern US. Both Indiana and Florida have had watermelon vine declines of unknown cause plague growers over the last several years. While significant questions still remain about the diseases in both locations, enough has been learned that a grower update is appropriate.