Alternaria leaf blight is a common fungal disease of plants in the cucurbit species, which includes gourds, melons, and squash. Watermelons are specifically affected by this disease.
Can watermelon get blight?
Southern blight on watermelons is a fungal disease caused by the fungi, Sclerotium rolfsii. Though the incidence of this specific type of blight has increased in other crops over the last several years, the blight of crops such as watermelon and cantaloupe is common and can often occur in the home garden.
How do you treat watermelon blight?
Fungicide Programs
Chlorothalonil and mancozeb protect against gummy stem blight, downy mildew, and anthracnose; chlorothalonil also protects against powdery mildew.
What are the diseases that affect watermelon?
Watermelon Diseases
- Disease Management Strategies.
- Anthracnose (Colletotrichum obiculare)
- Bacterial fruit blotch (Acidovorax citrulli)
- Cercospora leaf spot (Cercospora citrullina)
- Downy mildew (Pseudoperonospora cubensis)
- Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f.
- Gummy stem blight (Stagonosporopsis cucurbitacearum)
Which fungicide is best for watermelon?
Contact fungicides should be the backbone of most cantaloupe and watermelon spray schedules. Two contact fungicides for this purpose have the active ingredient chlorothalonil or mancozeb. They may be used all season-long.
What is killing my watermelon plants?
The most common reasons for watermelon plants dying include incorrect soil, watering issues, not enough sunlight, or planting issues. Temperature, weeds, diseases, and pests can also play a role.
How do you control blight watermelon gummy stems?
Daconil fungicides from GardenTech brand offer highly effective three-way protection to prevent, stop, and control gummy stem blight and more than 65 other diseases, including powdery mildew. Start treatments when cucurbit plants reach the first true leaf stage or when conditions favor the disease.
What do you spray watermelon with?
Melons are always attacked by fungal diseases, such as powdery and downy mildews. Therefore, preventive sprays should be employed often, using fungicides such as copper or mancozeb. Spraying can be done once a week during the dry season and at least twice during the wet season.
Why is my watermelon plant turning yellow and brown?
Yellowing Leaves in Watermelon
Nitrogen Deficiency – Both young and old leaves can show signs of nitrogen deficiency and may appear any shade of lighter green to yellow. This is common during both dry spells and when plants simply aren’t being fed enough.
What does an infected watermelon look like?
Bacterial fruit blotch infection on mature watermelon fruit appears first as a small, dark green stain on the upper surface, left. Initially the infection does not extend past the rind.
How do you control the watermelon virus?
Control insecticide use in order not to affect beneficial insects. Control ant populations that protect aphids with sticky bands. Check weeds and alfalfa in and around the fields. Use plastic mulches that repel aphids to reduce losses due to the disease.
Why do watermelon leaves turn brown?
Underwatering or overwatering is bad for Watermelon plants
Improper watering is usually the main culprit when yellow or brown leaves start to develop on watermelon plants. Plants like watermelon plants typically need regular watering to be able to mature and produce a good yield.
What causes deformed watermelon?
The deformed shape could indicate that part of the melon is getting enough water and trying to develop normally and part of it is not. Water regularly so the melons do not undergo dry spells. Mulching can also help to conserve moisture.
How do you increase watermelon fruit size?
To maximize the size of the melon, water the plants regularly in deep water sessions that keep the soil moist. Side dress the Watermelon plants with fertilizer prepared for edible crops or fertilizer tea to feed the plants. Fertilizer encourages growth to produce large melons.
Can you use neem oil on watermelon?
Neem oil is not only a natural pesticide, it’s also an antifungal spray. So, spraying your watermelon plants with neem oil every two weeks helps to keep insects away. Plus, you’ll also prevent fungus from causing plant disease.
Why do my watermelon leaves have black spots?
Gummy Stem Blight – Older tissues are generally affected more often than new ones when gummy stem blight fungus is involved. Black, wrinkled spots on leaves and dark or sunken areas on stems and fruits are the first signs of disease. Under humid or wet conditions, affected plants rapidly collapse.
How do you keep a watermelon healthy?
Keep soil moist, but not waterlogged. Water at the vine’s base in the morning, and try to avoid wetting the leaves and avoid overhead watering. Reduce watering once fruit are growing. Dry weather produces the sweetest melon.
Can you water watermelons too much?
A watermelon plant (Citrullus lanatus) needs enough moisture to ensure proper growth and fruit development. Too much water can be detrimental when growing watermelons, reducing the quality of the fruit or causing it to burst.
Is Epsom salt good for watermelon?
For sweeter watermelons and cantaloupes when the plant starts vining and again when small 1-inch melons appear, spray with 6 1/2 tablespoons Epsom salts and 3 1/2 tablespoons borax in 5 gallons of water. For more fruit on your pepper plants, fertilize the plant by burying an open one-half pack of book matches near it.
What is the best fungicide for gummy stem blight?
Contact fungicides effective against gummy stem blight include chlorothalonil (Bravo®, Echo®, Equus®) and mancozeb (Dithane®, Manzate®, Penncozeb®). Effective systemic fungicides include Folicur®/Monsoon®, Inspire Super®, and Switch®.
What causes stem blight?
Pathogen. Pod and stem blight is caused by the fungus Diaporthe phaseolorumsojae and Phomopsis spp. The fungus overwinters in infested crop debris and in infected seed. In early summer perithecia are produced which give rise to ascospores for initial infections.