Phytoparasitica (2002) 30 (3) - Vine decline and yield ...

R. Cohen, Shoshana Shriber and S. Graph (2002)
Vine decline and yield reduction in watermelon: the causal agents and evaluating chemical control efficacy
Phytoparasitica 30 (3)
The 23rd Congress of the Israeli Phytopathological Society - February 11-12, 2002
Abstract: The fungus Macrophomina phaseolina causes vine decline and yield losses in cucurbits. The wide distribution of M. phaseolina constitutes a serious threat to watermelon cultivation in its major production areas of Israel. Currently, control of the disease in Israel is possible by soil disinfestation treatment. The goal of this study was to find fungicides from different chemical groups that will inhibit M. phaseolina, as a first step towards establishing a disease control approach using fungicide application during the growing season. Of the 15 fungicides tested in vitro, the benzimidazole fungicides carbendazim, thiophanate methyl and benomyl totally inhibited the growth of M. phaseolina in culture at a concentration of 10 µg a.i. m^-1. Also the experimental fungicide cyflufenamid (NF-149), fluazinam and cyprodinil + fludioxonil (Switch) exhibited the same efficacy. The fungicide efficacy in suppressing the pathogen inside watermelon roots was tested in pot experiments. The fungicides were applied to the soil one month after sowing when roots were already colonized by the pathogen. Carbendazim had a curative effect, being capable of controlling the fungus inside the roots and of maintaining a low colonization level up to 5 weeks after application. Azoxystrobin was effective for the whole experiment period only when applied at the low concentration of 0.025% to the sandy soil. Cyprodinil + fludioxonil (Switch) acted differently in the different soils and concentrations; Switch was highly effective throughout 5 weeks when applied to the heavy soil in the high concentration (0.1%) and to the sandy soil in the low concentration. When applied to the sandy soil at the high concentration, it suppressed M. phaseolina completely in roots sampled after one week but enhanced root colonization by Fusarium solani.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)

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.
	Macrophomina phaseolina	Watermelon/colocynth (Citrullus)	Israel