Abstract
Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is one of the most significant economic fruits among the family Cucurbitaceae, growing in the Republic of Serbia. However, fruit rot caused by fungal and bacterial pathogens poses a significant threat to watermelon production globally, resulting in substantial economic losses. In July 2024, fruit rot was observed in watermelons in the AP Vojvodina (Despotovo, Serbia), with disease incidence ranging from 5-10%. Symptoms included water-soaked brown lesions on the fruit's surface, which eventually expanded and led to internal decay. From the collected samples, ten fungal isolates belonging to the genus Fusarium were obtained on PDA medium. These isolates exhibited white to light red mycelia and produced microconidia, macroconidia and chlamydospores. Morphological analysis identified all watermelon monoconidial isolates as F. oxysporum. Pathogenicity was confirmed on cucumber and squash fruits. Based on the results and host specificity the findings of this study suggest that F. oxysporum f. sp. niveum (FON) is responsible for the fruit rot disease in watermelons. This fungus can be transmitted through seeds and can survive in the soil for long periods; chlamydospores can remain viable for over a decade without a host, making contaminated soil a continual source of infection. FON can affect cucurbits at any growth stage, leading to symptoms such as seedling damping-off, plant stunting, death, and fruit rot. To manage FON, several strategies have been implemented, such as utilizing resistant cultivars, practicing crop rotation, applying chemical treatments, and grafting. However, an effective control measure for FON in cucurbits production is still lacking.
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Claims 6
Claim · model-written summary
Fruit rot was observed in watermelons in Despotovo, AP Vojvodina, Serbia in July 2024, with disease incidence of 5-10%.
- Taxon
- watermelons
Citrullus lanatuse0 - Outcome
- disease incidencee0
- Value
- 5-10%e0
- Setting
- AP Vojvodina (Despotovo, Serbia)e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“fruit rot was observed in watermelons in the AP Vojvodina (Despotovo, Serbia), with disease incidence ranging from 5-10%”
Claim · model-written summary
Ten Fusarium isolates were obtained from the collected rotten watermelon samples.
- Taxon
- WATERMELONCitrullus lanatust0
- Outcome
- ten fungal isolatese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“WATERMELON”
e0“ten fungal isolates belonging to the genus Fusarium were obtained on PDA medium”
Claim · model-written summary
Morphological analysis identified all watermelon isolates as Fusarium oxysporum.
- Taxon
- watermelonCitrullus lanatuse0
- Interactor
- F. oxysporum
_(Fusarium_oxysporum_f.sp._batatas)_1234227-PPT-Clemson_University.jpg?width=60)
Fusarium oxysporume0pathogen - Outcome
- identified all watermelon monoconidial isolates as F. oxysporume0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
_(Fusarium_oxysporum_f.sp._batatas)_1234227-PPT-Clemson_University.jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“Morphological analysis identified all watermelon monoconidial isolates as F. oxysporum”
Claim · model-written summary
Pathogenicity of the isolates was confirmed on cucumber fruits.
- Taxon
- cucumber
Cucumis sativuse0 - Outcome
- pathogenicitye0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Pathogenicity was confirmed on cucumber and squash fruits”
Claim · model-written summary
Pathogenicity of the isolates was confirmed on squash fruits.
Verbatim
e0“Pathogenicity was confirmed on cucumber and squash fruits”
Claim · model-written summary
Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum is concluded to be responsible for the watermelon fruit rot.
- Taxon
- watermelonsCitrullus lanatuse0
- Interactor
- F. oxysporum f. sp. niveum (FON)
Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveume0pathogen - Outcome
- responsible for the fruit rot diseasee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“F. oxysporum f. sp. niveum (FON) is responsible for the fruit rot disease in watermelons”