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AVRDC
International Cooperators'
Fact Sheet |
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Cucurbit Diseases Anthracnose Colletotrichum lagenarium (Glomerella cingulata var. orbiculare) Found worldwide |
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Damage Symptoms The disease is particularly damaging to watermelon, cucumber, and cantaloupe, but also may occur on most other cucurbit crops. On cucumber and cantaloupe, leaf lesions are circular and brown up to 1 cm in diameter, while on watermelon the leaf lesions are black and somewhat smaller. Petiole and stem lesions are elliptical in shape and sunken. Fruit lesions appear at or near maturity as watersoaked spots that develop into sunken, circular lesions lined with dark fungal stroma bearing masses of pink spores. |
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Conditions for Development Disease is favored by extended
periods of rain and warm temperatures. The pathogen persists
in crop debris, is seedborne, and may survive on volunteer crop
plants or cucurbit weeds. In the field, watersplash and windblown
rain disperse the fungus. Use resistant cultivars when available. Fungicidal sprays generally are necessary when susceptible cultivars are grown under conditions conducive for disease development. |
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Last updated: 2001. Information from: Vegetable Diseases: A Practical Guide. Lowell L. Black, AVRDC. |
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