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Watermelon gummy stem blight (007) Print Fact Sheet

Common Name

Gummy stem blight

Scientific Name

Stagonosporopsis cucurbitacearum; (previously, Didymella bryoniae). Also known by the asexual state, Phoma cucurbitacearum or Ascochyta cucumis. The later is commonly found on plants in the field producing minute oval spores in round black structures in the leaf called "pycnidia" that are just visible to the naked eye.

Distribution

Worldwide. Asia, Africa, North, South and Central America, the Caribbean, Europe, Oceania. The fungus is recorded on cucurbits from American Samoa, Australia, Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu.

Hosts

Watermelon, cantaloupe melon and cucumber.

Symptoms & Life Cycle

Spots occur on the leaves, grow rapidly and the leaves blacken, shrivel and die (Photos 1&2). It happens so quickly that it is called a 'blight'. Spots occur on the vines, and they can release a gummy (sticky) substance - hence the name of the disease. Infection of the fruit is uncommon.

The loss of leaves, and the damage to the vines, means that the fruits are starved of food, and do not develop properly.

The fungus produces small, black, round structures inside the leaf spots; they can just be seen with the naked eye, although they are clearer with a hand lens. These are tiny 'sacs' that contain millions of spores.

Fruit rots develop if leaves are severely infected. Small over to round spots occur with a greasy green colour and these turn dark brown to black as they enlarge. The fruiting bodies may develop in the spots.

When they are ready, and when it rains, the baskets burst open and the spores ooze out. Wind and rain carry the spores to other leaves of the same plant, to other plants or to plants in other gardens. When the spores land on watermelon leaves, they germinate like a seed. The fungus enters the leaf and grows inside. As it grows, it kills the leaf, forming the round, brown spots. The spots grow and join together. Then more baskets of spores develop, and the cycle starts again (Diagram).

Impact

If the disease is not controlled when first seen, it spreads very quickly, especially during days of heavy and continuous rain. It is common for whole crops to be ruined by gummy stem blight.

Detection & Inspection

In the nursery, look for large brown spots on the leaves (Photos 3&4). In the field, look for the rapid development of black spots and blotches that are typical of this disease, especially during wet weather.

Note, farmers sometimes mistake the disease for damage caused by caterpillars of a moth, Diaphania indica. These roll the leaves with silk threads and eat the parts between the veins (see Fact Sheet No. 33).

Management

CULTURAL CONTROL

Before planting:

During growth:

After harvest:

RESISTANT VARIETIES
In Solomon Islands, variety trials with farmers found that the disease was less on New Dragon.

CHEMICAL CONTROL
Use one of the following fungicides: chlorothalonil, mancozeb or copper oxychloride. Spray every 7-10 days, depending on the weather.


AUTHORS Helen Tsatsia & Grahame Jackson

Produced with support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research under project PC/2010/090: Strengthening integrated crop management research in the Pacific Islands in support of sustainable intensification of high-value crop production, implemented by the University of Queensland and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.



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