Application of Preplant Fumigants via Drip Irrigation Systems for the Management of Root Rot of Melons Caused by Monosporascus cannonballus

Root rot and vine decline, caused by Monosporascus cannonballus, is a destructive disease of melons in the desert production regions of southern California. In 1998, we initiated studies on the use of preplant fumigation to reduce resident pathogen populations in soil. Preplant fumigation with methyl iodide injected as a hot gas at 448.4 kg/ha through drip irrigation tape in preformed, tarped beds consistently provided significant (P < 0.05) reductions in the percentage of roots infected compared with the nonfumigated controls; these reductions were equal to or better than those achieved with an equivalent rate (448.4 kg/ha) of methyl bromide. Chloropicrin applied in water at 249.0 kg/ha through buried drip irrigation tape to either tarped or nontarped beds significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the percentages of both roots infected and roots on which perithecia were produced compared with nonfumigated controls.

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Drip Application of Alternative Fumigants to Methyl Bromide for Strawberry Production

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.39.7.1707 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 39 (7) ◽

pp. 1707-1715 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Husein A. Ajwa ◽

Thomas Trout

Keyword(s):

Methyl Bromide ◽

Irrigation Water ◽

Drip Irrigation ◽

Developed Countries ◽

Soil Fumigation ◽

Fruit Yield ◽

Methyl Isothiocyanate ◽

Irrigation Systems ◽

Metam Sodium ◽

Pathogen Populations

Strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa Duchesne) is a high-value cash crop that benefits from preplant soil fumigation with methyl bromide (MB) and chloropicrin (CP). Methyl bromide will be banned in the U.S. and other developed countries by 2005 for most uses. Potential alternative chemicals to replace methyl bromide for soil fumigation include CP, 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D), and methyl isothiocyanate (MITC) generators such as metam sodium (MS). Commercial formulations of these fumigants applied singly and in combination through drip irrigation systems were evaluated at two sites for three consecutive growing seasons as alternatives to MB:CP fumigation for strawberry production. A mixture of 1,3-D and CP was shank injected as Telone C35 (62% 1,3-D and 35% CP) at 374 kg·ha-1. An emulsifiable concentrate (EC) formulation of 1,3-D and CP was applied as InLine (60% 1,3-D and 32% CP) at 236 and 393 L·ha-1 through drip irrigation systems in three amounts of irrigation water (26, 43, and 61 L·m-2). Chloropicrin (CP EC, 96%) was drip applied singly at 130 or 200 L·ha-1. Metam sodium was applied singly as Vapam HL in three amounts of water and in combination with InLine and CP EC. Strawberry growth, fruit yields, disease pressure, and weed biomass were compared to an untreated control and shank injection with MB:CP mixture (67:33) at 425 kg·ha-1. For soils high in pathogen populations, fruit yield from the untreated plots was 34% to 50% relative to the MB:CP treatment. The greatest (95% to 110%) yields relative to MB:CP were in the high rates of the InLine treatments. Yields from simultaneous drip fumigation with a combination of Vapam HL and InLine or CP EC were less (67% to 79%) than yields from shank fumigation with MB:CP due to 1,3-D and CP hydrolysis reactions with Vapam HL or the generated MITC in the irrigation water that reduced the efficacy of these combinations to control soilborne pathogens. Application of reduced rates of InLine or CP EC followed 6 days later with reduced rates of Vapam HL controlled soil borne pathogens and weeds and produced the greatest fruit yield relative to all treatments. Chemical names used: 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D); methyl bromide (MB); trichloronitromethane (chloropicrin, CP); sodium methyldithiocarbamate (metam sodium); methyl isothiocyanate (MITC).

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Differential Yield Response Of Melon Hybrids with Monosporascus Root Rot/Vine Decline

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.31.4.675f ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 31 (4) ◽

pp. 675f-676

Author(s):

David W. Wolff ◽

Marvin E. Miller

Keyword(s):

Root Rot ◽

Physiological Stress ◽

Yield Response ◽

Marketable Yield ◽

Disease Symptoms ◽

Monosporascus Cannonballus ◽

Vine Decline ◽

Serious Disease ◽

Production Areas ◽

Don Carlos

Monosporascus root rot/vine decline (MRR/VD), caused by Monosporascus cannonballus, is a serious disease of the major melon production areas of Texas, California, and Arizona. We have previously identified differing levels of tolerance in melon germplasm based on vine disease symptoms. This study was conducted to evaluate the yield response of commercial and experimental cantaloupe and honeydew hybrids subjected to MRR/VD. Thirty-nine and six cantaloupe and honeydew hybrids, respectively, were transplanted into a field highly infested with M. cannonballus in March 1995 in a randomized, complete block with 4 replications. The field was highly infested with Monosporascus cannonballus. `Caravelle' (very susceptible) and `Deltex' (tolerant) were included as control entries. Fruit were harvested at maturity and sized. Any fruit that did not mature completely due to vine death were counted as culls (unmarketable). Marketable yield of the cantaloupe entries ranged from 26.74% to 67.35%. The most tolerant hybrids were `SR103654', `Don Carlos', `Explorer', and `Ovation'. Marketable yield of the honeydews ranged from 8.43% to 41.46%, with `Morning Ice' and `Creme de Menthe' showing the most tolerance. The best performing hybrids were evaluated again the Fall 1995 and Spring 1996 seasons. In general, genotypes which matured later, and had a more dispersed fruit set, were more tolerant to MRR/VD. This supports previous data showing that high physiological stress (heavy, concentrated fruit load) leads to more severe and rapid vine collapse.

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First Report of Root Rot and Vine Decline of Melon Caused by Monosporascus cannonballus in Greece

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis-10-17-1568-pdn ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 102 (5) ◽

pp. 1036-1036 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

E. A. Markakis ◽

E. A. Trantas ◽

C. S. Lagogianni ◽

E. Mpalantinaki ◽

M. Pagoulatou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Root Rot ◽

Monosporascus Cannonballus ◽

First Report ◽

Vine Decline

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Effects of Preconditioning Through Mycorrhizal Inoculation on the Control of Melon Root Rot and Vine Decline Caused by Monosporascus cannonballus

Journal of Phytopathology ◽

10.1111/jph.12389 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 163 (11-12) ◽

pp. 898-907 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Maria Pia Aleandri ◽

Diana Martignoni ◽

Roberto Reda ◽

Gabriele Chilosi

Keyword(s):

Root Rot ◽

Monosporascus Cannonballus ◽

Vine Decline ◽

Mycorrhizal Inoculation

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Occurrence and Pathogenicity of Fungi Associated with Melon Root Rot and Vine Decline in California

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis.2000.84.3.224 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 84 (3) ◽

pp. 224-230 ◽

Cited By ~ 42

Author(s):

B. J. Aegerter ◽

T. R. Gordon ◽

R. M. Davis

Keyword(s):

Root Rot ◽

Vascular Tissue ◽

Root Length Density ◽

Geographic Location ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Macrophomina Phaseolina ◽

Monosporascus Cannonballus ◽

Pathogenicity Tests ◽

Vine Decline ◽

Production Areas

The occurrence of fungi associated with root rot and vine decline of melon (Cucumis melo) in commercial fields in California was surveyed over 3 years. The fungi most frequently isolated from discolored vascular tissue or root rot were Acremonium cucurbitacearum, Rhizopycnis vagum, Monosporascus cannonballus, Fusarium solani, Macrophomina phaseolina, Pythium spp., and Verticillium dahliae. The frequency of isolation of the various fungi varied with root symptomology. Pythium spp., and M. phaseolina were frequently associated with a wet, brownish root rot, while A. cucurbitacearum, R. vagum, and Rhizoctonia solani were generally associated with a dry, corky root rot. Presence of Monosporascus cannonballus was associated both with a wet, brownish rot as well as with discrete, reddish, corky lesions. The frequency of isolation of a given pathogen varied with geographic location, with M. cannonballus present only in the southern production areas, while A. cucurbitacearum and Rhizopycnis vagum were most common in the northern production areas. In pathogenicity tests in field microplots, M. cannonballus caused vine collapse and severe root rot of cantaloupe, reducing root length density by 93%. California isolates of R. vagum and A. cucurbitacearum, although only weakly pathogenic in field microplots, caused root discoloration and reduced vine growth in greenhouse tests. Reduction in dry weight of greenhouse-grown cantaloupe was 40, 23, and 39% for R. vagum, A. cucurbitacearum, and M. cannonballus, respectively.

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Resistance in melon to Monosporascus cannonballus and M. eutypoides : Fungal pathogens associated with Monosporascus root rot and vine decline

Annals of Applied Biology ◽

10.1111/aab.12590 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 177 (1) ◽

pp. 101-111 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Gabriel Castro ◽

Gorka Perpiñá ◽

Cristina Esteras ◽

Josep Armengol ◽

Belén Picó ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Root Rot ◽

Fungal Pathogens ◽

Monosporascus Cannonballus ◽

Vine Decline

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Comparisons of Root Morphology in Susceptible and Tolerant Melon Cultivars before and after Infection by Monosporascus cannonballus

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.35.4.681 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 35 (4) ◽

pp. 681-683 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Kevin Crosby ◽

David Wolff ◽

Marvin Miller

Keyword(s):

Root Length ◽

Root Rot ◽

Growth Period ◽

Root Systems ◽

Root Tip ◽

Total Root Length ◽

Root Tips ◽

Monosporascus Cannonballus ◽

Vine Decline ◽

The Impact

The fungus Monosporascus cannonballus Pollock and Uecker infects melon (Cucumis melo L.) roots and causes root rot/vine decline disease, which has reduced productivity of commercial muskmelon and honeydew cultivars in South Texas. To assess the impact of the fungus on several root traits, two greenhouse experiments were carried out over two seasons. A comparison of inoculated vs. control root systems was carried out with four melon cultivars representing both susceptible (`Magnum 45' and `Caravelle') and tolerant types (`Deltex' and `Doublon'). The sand medium was inoculated with 50–60 colony forming units (CFUs) per gram of the severe Monosporascus strain, TX90-25. After a 30-day growth period, the control and inoculated root systems were carefully cleaned and evaluated. Roots were scanned by a computer and the data were analyzed by the Rhizo Pro 3.8 program. The traits of interest included total root length, average root diameter, number of root tips, number of fine roots (0–0.5 mm), and number of small roots (0.5–1 mm). Significant differences existed between the two tolerant cultivars and the two susceptible ones for four of the traits. Total root length, fine and small root length, and root tip number were greater for `Deltex' than for both susceptible cultivars and greater for `Doublon' than for `Caravelle'. The results suggest that tolerance to this pathogen is closely linked to the integrity of the root structure. The potential for improving root vigor to combat root rot/vine decline merits further investigation.

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Relative Performance of Strawberry Cultivars and Native Hybrids on Fumigated and Nonfumigated Soil in Michigan

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.36.1.136 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 36 (1) ◽

pp. 136-138 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

James F. Hancock ◽

Peter W. Callow ◽

Sedat Serçe ◽

Annemiek C. Schilder

Keyword(s):

Methyl Bromide ◽

Root Rot ◽

Fine Roots ◽

Relative Performance ◽

The Other ◽

Meloidogyne Hapla ◽

Root Knot Nematode ◽

Black Root Rot ◽

Strawberry Cultivars ◽

Better Than

The performance of four California and 11 eastern cultivars of Fragaria×ananassa Duchesne in Lamarck, and 12 elite F1 hybrids of Fragaria×ananassa with F. virginiana Miller in their immediate background was evaluated in a producer's field with and without methyl bromide-chloropicrin fumigation. Averaged across all genotypes, plants in nonfumigated soils had 43% fewer runners, 18% smaller fruit, and 46% lower yields than did plants on fumigated soil. They also had an average of 27% fewer crowns, 49% more root discoloration, significantly fewer fine roots, and showed symptoms of the black root rot syndrome. The most commonly isolated pathogens from discolored roots were Pythium sp., Rhizoctonia sp., Idriella lunata P.E. Nelson & K. Wilh., and the root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne hapla Chitwood). The performance of all genotypes was enhanced by fumigation, although the F. virginiana hybrids performed comparatively better than the other cultivars on nonfumigated soils.

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Application of Alternative Fumigants Through Drip Irrigation Systems

Phytopathology ◽

10.1094/phyto.2002.92.12.1349 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 92 (12) ◽

pp. 1349-1355 ◽

Cited By ~ 85

Author(s):

H. A. Ajwa ◽

T. Trout ◽

J. Mueller ◽

S. Wilhelm ◽

S. D. Nelson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Methyl Bromide ◽

Drip Irrigation ◽

Stratospheric Ozone ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Soil Conditions ◽

Short Term ◽

Irrigation Systems ◽

Worker Exposure ◽

Application Rates ◽

Optimum Application

Strawberry fields in California (9,500 ha annually) are pre-plant fumigated with methyl bromide and chloropicrin to prevent serious soil pest and disease problems. Although soil fumigation with methyl bromide has ensured stability of strawberry production, its use is being discontinued because of its effect on stratospheric ozone. The likely short-term alternatives such as 1,3-dichloropropene, chloropicrin, and metham sodium, although not ozone depleters, are potentially hazardous to the environment and humans if applied improperly. Water-soluble formulations of alternative fumigants can be applied through drip irrigation systems established to irrigate crops. In comparison to conventional shank methods of injection, application of soluble formulations through drip irrigation systems would be economical and environmentally friendly, reduce worker exposure, and allow for simultaneous or sequential application of a combination of fumigants. This paper discusses techniques developed to apply alternative fumigants through drip irrigation systems, and reviews ongoing studies to determine optimum application rates, soil conditions, plastic mulches, and amount of irrigation water used to apply these alternative fumigants.

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