Journal of Plant Pathology (2007) 89, p. S35 (Chilosi et al.)

G. Chilosi, R. Reda, M.P. Aleandri, M. Antonelli, L. Varvaro and P. Magro (2007)
Integrated management of melon collapse caused by Monosporascus cannonballus
Journal of Plant Pathology 89 (3, Suppl.), S35-S35
Poster Presentation at S.I.Pa.V XIV National Meeting - Perugia, Italy 19-21 Sept. 2007
Abstract: In recent years melon crops in the province of Viterbo (central Italy) were subjected to significant losses in yield and quality due to infections by the soil-borne fungal pathogen Monosporascus cannonballus. The objective of this 3-year field study was to evaluate different management strategies for controlling this disease. Among sanitation methods, the destruction of crop residues including roots effectively reduced disease incidence. Soil treatments with steam contributed to disease control in the short-term, whereas, the use of soil fumigation and solarisation did not provide satisfactory results. Melon cultivars differed in terms of tolerance. Grafting proved to be an effective measure only when more tolerant varieties were grafted on squash, whereas grafting on melon rootstocks was consistently ineffective. In recent years, chemical resistance inducers became an attractive alternative for controlling soil borne pathogens. Among a set of inducers tested, methyl jasmonate decreased disease incidence. Mycorrhizal fungi and antagonistic fungi and bacteria contribute to soil fertility and crop yield by limiting the development of pathogens and inducing resistance in plants. We have isolated from non-cultivated soils of the area, a group of beneficial bacteria able to inhibit growth of M. cannonballus. The treatment of composts with local biocontrol agents may provide an additional tool for controlling the pathogen.
Database assignments for author(s): Leonardo Varvaro

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
control - general

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Monosporascus cannonballus	Melon (Cucumis melo)	Italy