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Title: OCCURRENCE OF VINE DECLINE DISEASES OF MUSKMELON IN GUATEMALA

Author
item Bruton, Benny
item MILLER, M - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Plant Disease
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/20/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Central American countries have become major production areas of melon destined for export to Europe and the United States during the winter months. The continuous and intensive cultivation of these crops has resulted in an increase world-wide of a group of soilborne diseases known as vine declines. Vines typically appear healthy until the fruit are approaching maturity when the crown leaves begin to turn yellow and collapse and the decline gradually radiates outward. Isolations from affected plants revealed the presence of several fungi capable of causing vine decline or suspected to be involved in the vine decline complex. The fungi obtained were the same pathogens frequently encountered in the United States. These data provide information on the distribution and extends the known range of these vine decline fungi into Central America.

Technical Abstract: Central American countries have become major production areas of melon (Cucumis melo L.) destined for export to Europe and the United States during the winter months. Double cropping in the same fields year after year has created serious vine decline diseases in melons grown in the Capco area of Guatemala. The roots exhibited some decay, lesions, and discoloration but were not macerated and rotten. Isolations were made fro the crown area, primary root, and secondary roots of selected plants. Isolations revealed the presence of several fungi capable of causing vine decline or suspected to be involved in the vine decline complex. Rhizoctonia solani K#hn and Fusarium semitectum Berk. & Ravenel were isolated from more than 50% of plants in some fields. F. semitectum, R. solani, and a Stagonospora-like fungus were isolated from 38, 18, and 17% of the total plants, respectively. R. solani was isolated from the crown more often than from the roots, but its role is not understood. With one exception, F. semitectum was always isolated from the crown area which may suggest a more significant role in the vine decline complex than suspected previously. The Stagonospora-like fungus, isolated from 30% of the plants from one field, has been reported as a pathogen of cantaloupe that may contribute to the vine decline complex. Monosporascus cannonballus Pollack & Uecker and Fusarium oxysporum Schlechtend.:Fr. emend. W. C. Snyder & H. N. Hans. were isolated from 60% of the plants from one field. It was the only field in which M. cannonballus was isolated. Plectosporium tabacinum (van Beyma) M. E. Palm, W. Gams et Nirenberg, a cucurbit pathogen, was isolated infrequently. This is the first report of M. cannonballus, P. tabacinum, and the Stagonospora-like fungus in Guatemala.