- Widespread distribution. In tropics and sub-tropics. A wet-weather disease, common on cucurbits, i.e., members of the cucumber family, especially, cucumber, melon and watermelon. An important disease.
- Angular dark brown spots on watermelon; brown spots on melon and cucumber with halos, and centres that fall out. Large, brown, round, sunken spots on the fruit, with pink spore masses in wet weather.
- Spread in wind-blown rain; longer distances in seed.
- Cultural control: certified seed; tolerant varieties (cucumber, watermelon); check seedlings in nursery; avoid planting near older infected crops; avoid overhead irrigation, or apply early in the day; avoid entering fields when plants are wet; weed; collect and burn trash after harvests; crop rotation.
- Chemical control: copper, chlorothalonil, or mancozeb.
Pacific Pests, Pathogens and Weeds - Online edition
Pacific Pests, Pathogens, Weeds & Pesticides
Cucurbit anthracnose (200)
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Summary
Common Name
Cucurbit anthracnose
Scientific Name
Colletotrichum orbiculare; sometime known as Colletotrichum lagenarium. Three races are known.
AUTHORS Grahame Jackson & Manu Mua
Information from Harris M (2014) Colletotrichum orbiculare (anthracnose of cucurbits). BugwoodWiki. (https://wiki.bugwood.org/Colletotrichum_orbiculare_(anthracnose_of_cucurbits); and Cucurbits, Anthracnose (undated) The Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment. University of Massachusetts Amherst. (https://ag.umass.edu/vegetable/fact-sheets/cucurbits-anthracnose); and from CABI (2019) Colletotrichum orbiculare (anthracnose of cucurbits). Crop Protection Compendium. (https://www.cabi.org/cpc/datasheet/14917). Photos 1 Clemson University - USDA Cooperative Extension Slide Series, Bugwood.org. Photo 2 Gerald Holmes, California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo, Bugwood.org. Photo 3 Kohler F, et al. (1997) Diseases of cultivated crops in Pacific Island countries. South Pacific Commission. Pirie Printers Pty Limited, Canberra, Australia. Photo 4 Charles Averre, North Carolina State University, Bugwood.org.
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.
