Abstract
In 2010, a foliar and stem-lesion disease that produced moderate to severe defoliation of watermelon was observed in the southern Great Plains. The disease was ultimately determined to be caused by Myrothecium roridum. The objective of this study was to compare the susceptibility of the vegetation and fruit of a broad range of commercially important cucurbits to three isolates obtained from these foliar lesions on watermelon. In greenhouse foliar inoculation experiments, cantaloupe, honeydew, cucumber, squash, and watermelon were susceptible to the fungus with cantaloupe and honeydew being the most susceptible and watermelon the most resistant. Furthermore, greenhouse inoculations supported earlier field observations as differential resistance was exhibited among the watermelon cultivars as well as the cucurbit types. All tested cucurbit fruit exhibited interior lesions when inoculated sub-epidermally with M. roridum isolates. However, natural infection of watermelon and pumpkin fruit has never been reported.
Highlights
Myrothecium roridum Tode ex Fr. is a common soilinhabiting fungus with a relatively wide host range that includes such agronomic crops as cotton, tomato, cocao, coffee, potato, soybean, and cucurbits, as well as various ornamental plants [1,2,3]
The objective of this study was to compare the susceptibility of the vegetation and fruit of a broad range of commercially important cucurbits to three isolates obtained from these foliar lesions on watermelon
The objective of this study was to determine the susceptibility of selected cucurbits to the fungus, M. roridum isolates from these diseased watermelon plants
Summary
Myrothecium roridum Tode ex Fr. is a common soilinhabiting fungus with a relatively wide host range that includes such agronomic crops as cotton, tomato, cocao, coffee, potato, soybean, and cucurbits, as well as various ornamental plants [1,2,3]. M. roridum has been demonstrated to be seed-transmitted in numerous cases, including cucurbits [4,5,6,7], and has been evaluated for biocontrol of water hyacinth [3,8]. Diseases caused by M. roridum are generally thought to be associated most frequently with warmer environments during wet conditions [1,9, 10]. M. roridum was recently reported as an endophyte of the gymnosperm, Pinus albicaulis, at high elevation in Oregon [11]. The disease was subsequently reported in Georgia (USA) in 2005 [14] and in Oklahoma (USA) in 2012 [15]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
