The fungus M. cannonballus is an important root pathogen that causes collapse in cucurbitaceas. The present work had as objective to evaluate the effect of the row cover with white polypropylene of 15 g m-2 on the population density of M.cannonballus in soil cultivated with watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thumb.) Matsu & Nakai]. The experimental design was of randomized blocks using parcels subdivided scheme with three replications. The parcels consisted of use or not row cover and subparcelas through the time of soil collected (0, 12, 24, 36, 48 days after the transplanting). The variables evaluates were ascospores density, soil temperature and air temperature. There was not influence of the characteristics gotten for the row cover before the ascospores density of M. cannonballus, in the soils cultivated with watermelon and proportioning reduction of soil temperature means and air temperature means, being efficient alternative in the Mickylee watermelon production.
Citrullus lanatus; ascospores extraction; inoculum; temperature
