Walcott, R.R. 2005. Bacterial fruit blotch of cucurbits. The Plant Health Instructor. DOI: 10.1094/PHI-I-2005-1025-02

DISEASE:  Bacterial fruit blotch of cucurbits

PATHOGEN:  Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli (= Pseudomonaspseudoalcaligenes subsp. citrulli, Pseudomonas avenae subsp. citrulli)

HOSTS:  watermelon, melon (cantaloupe, honeydew), cucumber, pumpkin, squash, gourds, citronmelon and other cucurbits

Author
Ron R. Walcott,
University of Georgia, Athens GA

Bacterial fruit blotch has great potential to cause significant economic losses to cucurbit production, and has been responsible for up to 90% losses of marketable yield in some watermelon fields.

Figure 1. Mature watermelon fruit displaying typical bacterial fruit blotch symptoms including irregularly shaped water-soaked lesions with cracks. (Courtesy R. Walcott)