ZonePlant

Disease on crop

bacterial

Bacterial Wilt of Cucurbits on melon

Erwinia tracheiphila

Bacterial disease vectored exclusively by cucumber beetles. Once a plant is infected there is no recovery; whole-plant collapse follows.

Disease
Bacterial Wilt of Cucurbits
Pathogen type
Bacterial
Crop
Melon
Scientific name
Erwinia tracheiphila

Bacterial Wilt of Cucurbits on melon

Detailed guidance for this section is being prepared. Check back soon.

Symptoms on melon

  • Sudden wilting of one runner at a time spreading across the plant
  • Sticky bacterial ooze when a wilted stem is cut and pulled apart
  • Plant collapse within 1-2 weeks of first wilt symptoms

IPM controls

  • Manage cucumber beetles aggressively from emergence (the only effective control)
  • Rogue out infected plants at first symptom to reduce inoculum
  • Plant resistant varieties (some cucumber types like County Fair show resistance)
  • Floating row cover from transplant until first female flowers

Other crops affected by bacterial wilt of cucurbits

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