Plant Disease (2003) 87, 1495-1499

D.L. Hopkins, C.M. Thompson, J. Hilgren and B. Lovic (2003)
Wet seed treatment with peroxyacetic acid for the control of bacterial fruit blotch and other seedborne diseases of watermelon
Plant Disease 87 (12), 1495-1499
Abstract: Prevention of seed transmission of Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli into the transplant house or field is the most effective control of bacterial fruit blotch of watermelon currently available. Peroxyacetic acid was evaluated as a disinfectant that might efficaciously eradicate A. avenae subsp. citrulli from contaminated seed and also be efficacious against other seed-transmitted diseases of watermelon. Peroxyacetic acid at low concentrations eliminated A. avenae subsp. citrulli, Fusarium oxysporum, and Didymella bryoniae from microbial suspensions. Treatments of seed contaminated with A. avenae subsp. citrulli and D. bryoniae with peroxyacetic acid at 1,600 µg/ml and higher for 30 min were effective in preventing seed transmission of bacterial fruit blotch and gummy stem blight. Hydrochloric acid treatments at 10,000 µg/ml, while effective in eliminating seed transmission to watermelon seedlings, can adversely affect seed germination, especially with triploid seed. Efficacious dosages of peroxyacetic acid can be applied safely to freshly harvested triploid watermelon seed without concerns for reduction in seed quality. A most effective wet seed treatment protocol involved a 30-min treatment with peroxyacetic acid at 1,600 µg/ml followed by seed drying at low humidity in a 40°C drying oven for 48 h.
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Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
transmission/dispersal of plant diseases
control - general

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Acidovorax citrulli	Watermelon/colocynth (Citrullus)	U.S.A. (SE)