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Evaluation of fungicides for management of Fusarium wilt of watermelon
N. MILLER (1), M. Adams (1), L. Quesada-Ocampo (1) (1) North Carolina State University, U.S.A.
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Fusarium wilt of watermelon, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum, is an economically important disease in the United States and worldwide. It has traditionally been managed with long crop rotations and resistant varieties. However, the development and increased prevalence of new pathogen races has reduced the number of available resistant cultivars. In light of this, new chemical control options would greatly assist growers in controlling Fusarium wilt of watermelon. This study evaluates new and existing chemical control options for their potential in limiting F. oxysporum growth in the lab and managing disease in the field. Fungicide efficacy in vitro using a fungicide-amended media assay with 10 single formulation products at four concentrations revealed that prothioconazole and ADEPIDYNTM fungicide were among the best performing fungicides. Sensitivity to these fungicides was determined for 100 isolates of Fusarium oxysporum. Field-testing of these two products at two concentrations and application methods indicated that both products significantly reduced disease incidence, but a drench treatment followed by a foliar spray treatment 14 days post transplant was superior in reducing Fusarium wilt incidence in comparison to either product used in only a drench treatment. These two products could effectively complement existing strategies in managing Fusarium wilt of watermelon.