Martyn, R.D. 2002. Monosporascus root rot and vine decline of melons. The Plant Health Instructor. DOI: 10.1094/PHI-I-2002-0612-01
Updated, 2009.

DISEASE:  Monosporascus Root Rot and Vine Decline of Melons (MRR/VD). Also referred to as sudden wilt, sudden death, melon collapse, Monosporascus wilt, and black pepper root rot.

PATHOGEN:  Monosporascus cannonballus Pollack & Uecker

HOSTS:  Melon (Cucumis melo) and watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum & Nakai) are the principal economic hosts. Most other cucurbits, including cucumber (Cucumis sativus), bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria), and Cucurbita spp., are susceptible to artificial inoculation but are rarely observed infected under commercial field conditions. Infection has been observed, however, in several cucurbit species in commercial greenhouse production. Other noncucurbit plants are reported to support pathogen growth under artificial inoculation conditions or in the field without obvious symptoms of disease.

Author
Ray D. Martyn,
Purdue University

Collapse of melon plants due to M. cannonballus. (Courtesy R. Martyn)