Gummy stem blight, caused by Didymella bryoniae, is one of the most important watermelon diseases. Nevertheless, there are relatively few published studies on the response of watermelon genotypes to the disease. This paper reports results of studies on the response of commercially available watermelon cultivars to gummy stem blight. Leaf infection was studied in a randomized complete block field experiment with nine watermelon genotypes and four replicates. Two plants per experimental plot were inoculated 43 days after planting. Cultivars Crimson Sweet, Onix, Rubi, Safira, Eureka, Georgia, Sheila, Savana and Riviera were evaluated. Stem infection was studied in the greenhouse, in a completely randomized design, with three replicates, in a 9 X 3 factorial, where plant cultivars corresponded to factor "a" and pathogen isolates corresponded to factor "b". The same nine cultivars were examined following artificial inoculation with mycelial disks inserted into stems, 15 days after planting date, when plants were at the first adult leaf stage. The D. bryoniae isolates were UnB 76 (Melon-DF), UnB 75 (Watermelon-PE) and UnB 81 (Pumpkin-DF). In the field experiment, Riviera was the most resistant genotype, with significantly (P<0.05) lower values of leaf infection at 74 and 79 DAP and the smallest area under disease progress curve (AUDPC). Crimson Sweet, Rubi, Onix and Safira were the most susceptible genotypes based on foliar disease levels 74 days after planting and also based on the AUDPCs. In the greenhouse, Riviera also presented the smallest (P<0.05) AUDPC in stems. A significant correlation (r=0.77) was detected between disease measurements in the greenhouse (stem response) and in the field (foliar response).
Citrullus lanatus; Didymella bryoniae
