Effect of Nonhost Crop Plants on Watermelon Fusarium Wilt. D. L. Hopkins, Professor of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Agricultural Research Center, Leesburg 32748. G. W. Elmstrom, Professor of Horticulture, University of Florida, Agricultural Research Center, Leesburg 32748. Plant Dis. 68:239-241. Accepted for publication 14 September 1983. Copyright 1984 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-68-239.

Nine crop plant species that are nonhosts of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum were grown for 3 yr in a field naturally infested with high levels of the watermelon Fusarium wilt fungus. Decline of the wilt fungus, as determined by greenhouse bioassay, was similar with all nine nonhost crops. Watermelon yields were highest after 3 yr of bahiagrass than after any of the other nonhosts. Apparently, a reduction in Fusarium wilt was not the sole benefit of the bahiagrass sod.