Diseases

Verticillium Wilt of Melon

Cucumis melo L.

A tracheomycotic wilt of melon caused by the soil-borne fungus Verticillium dahliae, which clogs the plant's vascular system. The disease is characterized by loss of turgor, leaf yellowing, and xylem browning, often leading to plant death during the flowering and fruit-setting stages.

In the reference 8 varieties crop Melon, where this is mentioned in the description.

The pathogen Verticillium dahliae infects the plant's vascular system, hindering the normal transport of water and nutrients. Symptoms begin to appear on the lower tier of leaves as wilting, which gradually spreads up the plant. A characteristic sign of the disease is the unilateral wilting of vines or individual leaves, and a diagnostic cross-section of the lower stem clearly reveals browning of the conducting vessels caused by the fungal mycelium.

In melon breeding for resistance to this pathogen, no specific generally accepted genes have been identified, unlike resistance genes in other crops. Main research efforts focus on identifying QTLs associated with resistance and experimentally studying regulatory genes, such as CmVQ23, which contribute to enhancing the plant's defense responses. In practice, resistant genotypes are selected primarily through screening on disease-conducive soil backgrounds.

General information about the subject — on the page Verticillium wilt.

Sources8

Varieties of Melon mentioned in the description

Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.