MANAGEMENT OF MONOSPORASCUS CANNONBALLUS WILT OF MUSKMELONS BY GRAFTING UNDER GEOTHERMALLY HEATED GREENHOUSES IN THE SOUTH OF TUNISIA

Monosporascus cannonballus is a soilborne pathogen which can be very severe and destroy the entire muskmelon crop, in early and late cropping seasons, in greenhouses heated by geothermal water, in the south of Tunisia.
Soil fumigation with methyl bromide is the most common approach for controlling Monosporascus in melons in many regions of the world.
Likewise, grafting melons and watermelons on Cucurbita rootstocks is used successfully to manage soilborne pathogens (i.e. Fusarium wilt) in Tunisia and in many others countries.
In this study two muskmelon varieties ‘Pancha’ and ‘Protéo’ were grafted on three rootstocks namely ‘Emphasis’ (Lagenaria type), ‘Stong Tosa’ and ‘TZ 148’ (hybrid cucurbita types). Seedlings were planted in a plastic greenhouse heated with geothermal water in the early and late production seasons.
Results obtained in this study showed that grafting ‘Pancha’ and ‘Protéo’ on the rootstocks ‘Strong Tosa’ and ‘TZ 148’ enhanced plant growth and increased early and total yield as well as weight of fruits, compared to control treatments.
However, grafted plants wilted towards the end of the culture.
On the other hand, most of the plants grafted on the rootstock ‘Emphasis’ wilted after plantation, probably due to the attack by Pythium.

International Symposium on Strategies Towards Sustainability of Protected Cultivation in Mild Winter Climate

H. Jebari, H.B. Abdallah, A. Zouba

melon, soil-borne pathogen, wilting

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2009.807.99