Win The War Against Bacterial Wilt Of Cucurbits

Disease Specs

This vascular wilt disease is caused by the bacterium Erwinia tracheiphila and affects members of the cucurbit family, including cucumber, squash, muskmelon, pumpkin, and gourds. Watermelon is resistant to the disease and certain varieties of cucumber and squash show varying levels
of resistance.

Bacterial wilt of curcurbits

Photo by Gerald Holmes

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Identification

The disease typically begins with the wilting of individual leaves or runners during hot, sunny days. Within a week or two, the entire plant is wilting with no recovery from the heat of the day followed by rapid death of the plant.

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Wilted leaves are dull green in appearance. Symptoms spread along the runners and sometimes appear as a recurring wilt during hot, dry days. Eventually, the leaves and runners turn brown and die.

If the bacterium spreads from infected runners into the main stem, the entire plant can shrivel and die.

Fruit may exhibit small water-soaked patches on the surface, which eventually become shiny spots of dead tissue.

A characteristic symptom of bacterial wilt is the tell-tale bacterial ooze that may be sometimes be observed by cutting crosswise through infected stems close to ground level. If the cut stems are squeezed and pressed together and then slowly pulled apart, mucous-like strands of bacterial ooze often can be seen extending between the cut surfaces.

Survival And Spread

The bacterium that causes the disease overwinters in the digestive system of the striped cucumber beetle and the spotted cucumber beetle as well as in alternate perennial host plants.

When beetles feed on cucurbits, they spread the bacterium. This pathogen only can enter the plant through wounds produced by beetles during feeding, as opposed through natural plant openings such as stomates.

Once infection occurs, the bacterium reproduces in the xylem of the plant, preventing the movement of water in the plant.

When the beetles feed on infected cucurbits, their mouthparts become contaminated with the bacteria. When they feed on another susceptible cucurbit, it transports the bacterium and introduces it to the new plant.

Management Methods

Once a plant is infected, there is no effective control method. Infected plants should be rouged out and destroyed.

The primary management strategy is control of cucumber beetles and preventing them from feeding on plants.

Cucumber beetles may be monitored with yellow sticky traps to help growers implement timely control measures.

Selectively control beetles with insecticides. Fast-acting insecticides fit well into an integrated pest management program in conjunction with other practices. Because cucurbits rely on honey bees and other insect pollinators for fruit production, insecticides must be used with care to protect pollinators.

Reflective mulch may help repel beetles and use of row covers prior to bloom may reduce infections and yield loss.

Organic producers may benefit from the use of neem products, which act both as an anti-feedant and a growth regulator. Surround WP (kaolin, NovaSource) and other clay-based crop protectants also may help suppress cucumber beetle feeding activity.

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It is very important to note that the author stated that vascular wilt disease caused by the bacterium Erwinia. The bacterium reproduces in the xylem of the plant thus preventing the movement of water in the plant. Like “Greening ”
on citrus trees the cure is treating the plant with beneficial bacteria that will kill the Erwinia and restore circulation.
The consortium of microorganisms ( bacteria ) in Quantum Growth products have their ability to perform this function.
This consortium contains only all natural, non toxic microorganisms including nitrogen fixing bacteria to reduce the need for nitrogen fertilizer.

Avatar for Crush davis Crush davis says:

Pretty big claim you’re making. Please post a link to independently-conducted research with valid scientific methods backing it up. Otherwise it’s just another sales pitch.

[…] Win The War Against Bacterial Wilt Of Cucurbits | Growing Produce The bacterium that causes the disease overwinters in the digestive system of the striped cucumber beetle and the spotted cucumber beetle as well as in alternate perennial host plants. When beetles feed on cucurbits, they spread the bacterium. This … Read more on Growing Produce […]

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