Plant Pathology: Extension: Plant Disease Library

Fruit Blotch - Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli

Cantaloupe - Cucumis melon

Disease Symptoms:
Foliar symptoms appear as necrotic, sometimes water-soaked, V-shaped lesions which extend back towards the midrib of the plant and which are usually surrounded by a yellow halo. Infected fuit appear to have slightly sunken circular areas with necrotic scabs or cracks located in the center. The flesh of the cantaloupe beneath these sunken areas is dark brown and deteriorated and expands into the flesh from the melon surface at the point of the scab or crack.

Disease Management:
Control measures include destroying infected seedlings and plants, sanitizing infested greenhouses with 10% NaOH (Clorox) or other commercial bactericides, applying copper compounds throughout the season (preferably tank mixed with an EBDC compound such as Dithane, Maneb, Penncozeb, Mancozeb, etc.), and rotation away from fields known to have fruit blotch for 2-3 years. If you identify cantaloupe plants with fruit blotch it is necessary to send plants to the Tifton Disease Clinic for a lab confirmation and to obtain variety and seedlot information and some of the seed if possible to aid in determining the source of contamination.

Compiled by: Dr. David Langston, UGA Vegetable Pathologist - Tifton