Melon diseases, their treatment, danger to humans and the fight against them with photos and videos

Melon crop beds

Many melons, in particular melons, have a predisposition to being affected by various diseases. Melon diseases are divided by the type of pathogens: viruses, bacteria, fungi. And to know the difference between these types of diseases is the lot of not only specialists in microbiological laboratories, but also ordinary gardeners. Once you learn how to make the correct diagnosis, the fight against them will not be so costly, because you can carry out the correct and effective treatment. Melon diseases and pests will not affect the quality and quantity of the crop, if you know their main symptoms, methods of prevention and treatment. And the questions: why the leaves of seedlings turn yellow, curl, why worms appear in the melon and rust on the stems, after reading the article, will no longer confuse you.

1 Downy mildew
2 Powdery mildew
3 Fusarium
4 Anthracnose
5 Root Rot
6 Video "Increasing the yield of melon"

Downy mildew

Peronosporosis (downy mildew) is a fungal disease characterized by the appearance of yellow-green spots on the leaves of the melon. Spotting and rusting occurs early in the development of the plant and progresses rapidly. Over time, a gray bloom appears on the melon leaves - a sign of sporulation of the fungus.

What to do to prevent downy mildew from showing up on the melon?

Methods for the prevention of peronospora include warming the seeds in a thermos for 2 hours at a temperature of 45 degrees and processing them for 20 minutes in a 1% solution of potassium permanganate.

If, nevertheless, the disease has caught up with the plant, and the leaves are rapidly turning yellow, use a urea solution and a Bordeaux mixture. Then you can apply drugs like "Topaz" and "Oxyhom", observing the dosage indicated on the package.

Watermelon pests

With improperly conducted agricultural technology, in addition to diseases, watermelons are also attacked by many harmful insects. It is important to inspect melons and gourds more often in order to begin their destruction in time. Parasites not only do great harm to watermelons themselves, but also contribute to the spread of dangerous diseases.

Did you know? On the Japanese island of Hokkaido, watermelons are grown, the rind of which is painted black. Due to their unusual appearance, these pumpkins are the most expensive in the world. In 2008, one watermelon was sold at auction for $ 6,300,000. The average price for one fancy pumpkin is $ 250.

Melon aphid

Most often watermelons are affected by black aphids. This miniature insect settles on the lower leaf plate and sucks the sap from the plants. The first symptoms of infection - twisting of leaves, leaf fall, falling of flowers. If you notice the appearance of a small number of insects in time, then they can be washed off with soapy water, sprinkled with wood ash or ash-tobacco mixture. In case of severe infection, treatment with "Inta-Vir" is required (1 tablet per 10 liters of water, 1.5 liters / 10 m²).

It is impossible not to notice aphids on a watermelon, the plant can be covered with insects

Wireworm

A wireworm is a larva of a click beetle. It looks like a worm 1-3 cm long, has a hard yellow body. This insect damages the root system. After its harmful activity, the roots begin to rot.The reproduction of wireworms is facilitated by the debris of the site, the lack of high-quality care of the land.

The wireworm prefers acidic soil, therefore, when preparing the beds, dolomite flour, sifted wood ash, eggshell powder must be introduced into the soil.It is important to weed, loosen, dig in a timely manner, add lime, wood ash to the soil, feed the site with nitrogen fertilizers (for example, ammonium sulfate , 25 g / m²). Before planting, it is worth spilling the holes with a solution of potassium permanganate. The installation of special traps that catch click beetles is also effective. To save plants in case of infection will help the treatment with "Topaz", "Strobi", "Tilt".

Important! Treatments with chemicals should be carried out in compliance with personal safety measures, protecting the respiratory tract with a respirator, eyes with special glasses, hands with gloves, and the body with overalls.

Spider mite

During hot and dry periods, watermelon beds are attacked by spider mites. These small sucking insects feed on plant juices and live on the lower leaf plate. Their presence can be indicated by the presence of cobwebs on terrestrial organs. Small holes are formed on the top plate of the sheets. As a result, the leaves dry up, the plant lags behind in growth, and dies if left untreated.

First of all, the spider mite begins to suck out the juice from the young parts of the plant. If there are not many pests, then you can first remove the affected leaves and burn them. In case of mass destruction, it is necessary to carry out treatment with the preparations "Fundazol", "Fitoverm", "Bitoxibacillin", "Aktofit", "Fufanon", colloidal sulfur.

Thrips

These small insects with a body length of slightly less than 1 cm with brown wings can be found on the leaves of melons. First, they feed on weeds, and then move on to cultivated plants. Small punctures on the leaves testify to their presence. Sucking out the juice, thrips eventually lead to the destruction of plants.

Heat and dry air contribute to their spread.If insects were found when there are not too many of them, then you can resort to treatments with an infusion of onion husks (1 liter of husk pour 2 liters of warm water, leave for 48 hours, add 6 liters of water and soap). In case of mass destruction, chemical treatments are necessary with "Fufanon", "Fitoverm", "Iskra M", "Commander Maxi".

Sprout fly

Insect larvae are especially dangerous for newly planted seedlings and seeds. They are capable of causing tremendous damage to the root system and sprouts. The insect itself looks like a common fly with gray wings and brown stripes on the back. Body length - 3-5 mm. To get rid of the flies, they are treated three times with insecticides. Suitable "Zenkor", "Hurricane Forte" and others. For the purpose of prophylaxis, the seeds are soaked in the "Fentiuram" (3 g / 1 kg of seeds).

The main damage to plants is caused by the larvae of the sprout fly, but this does not mean that there is no need to fight with adults.

Gall nematode

Nematodes are roundworms with a body size of up to 1 mm. They live underground and attack the root system, resulting in yellow and brown growths on the roots. As a result, the plant begins to develop incorrectly, the quality and quantity of the crop is significantly reduced. When damaged, the melon culture looks depressed with twisted leaves.

Infection is carried out through the soil, plant residues, inventory. It is possible to save plants affected by a nematode only in case of timely detection of the pest. If the damage is strong, and there are many insects, then there is no point in treating watermelons. At the initial stages, treatments are carried out with "Mercaptophos", "Phosphamide", "BI-58".

We recommend that you find out how much you can and how to properly store a watermelon at home.

Scoop butterflies

Scoops are moths with gray wings. By themselves, they do not represent a danger to plants. The damage is caused by their larvae, which feed on foliage and shoots. First, they eat weeds, and then move to cultivated plants, therefore, when growing watermelons, timely and regular weeding is an important and mandatory procedure.

In case of damage to caterpillars, watermelons must be treated with wormwood infusion (300 g of flowering grass + 1 tbsp. Wood ash + 1 tbsp. L. Liquid soap + 10 l. Boiling water, leave for 5-6 hours). In case of severe damage, they resort to the use of chemicals "Decis", "Sherpa".

So, subject to the recommendations for planting and care, watermelons will develop and bear fruit normally. If you make mistakes, then they will begin to hurt and be affected by parasites. When treating, most often you will have to resort to "chemistry", which is extremely undesirable for the crop and the human body.

Powdery mildew

This is the most common disease of melons, the symptoms of which are simply necessary to know. If small white spots appear on the stems and leaves of the melon, it's time to sound the alarm. The active phase of powdery mildew should not be allowed, when the leaves curl, dry, and sometimes even become dark brown.

Any gardener has heard at least something about the rules of crop rotation. It is their observance that is the best prevention of disease - even powdery mildew is not terrible for your seedlings.

It is important to remember: melons cannot be planted in the place of seedlings of marrows, potatoes, eggplants and melons. Their best predecessors are radishes, tomatoes, dill.

What should be done if the melon could not be protected from this disease? Powdery mildew is a rapidly developing disease, so after you find the first spots, do not hesitate, but treat the plant with sulfur solution.

Melon garden is prohibited from processing 3 weeks before harvest.

Tips & Tricks

Tips from experienced farmers to help you keep your crops safe and maximize your yield:

constantly look after melons: weed the beds, water regularly, spray the bushes from pests, remove weeds and infected fruits;
to implement the correct crop rotation after the melon, sow the soil with annual and perennial grasses;
to combat wireworm larvae and gnawing moth caterpillars when planting a culture, add 1 tsp to each well. ground eggshell.

Fusarium

Fusarium wilting is another fungal disease that occurs on medium to late ripening melons. It can appear when the seedlings have only 2-3 true leaves or at the time of fruit ripening. Melon leaves wither, turn yellow, and become covered with gray rust. In a week, the plant may die completely, and if the melon was saved with the help of chemical preparations, the fruits will no longer be so sweet and juicy, and the yield will decrease several times.

As with powdery mildew, proper crop rotation is the best precautionary method. Fungal diseases develop in the soil, therefore, by planting melons and gourds in the place of their close relatives, wilting cannot be avoided.

If symptoms of fusarium still appear, use phosphate or potassium preparations.

Viral diseases

Cucumber Mosaic Virus, Specialty Virus and Watermelon Mosaic Virus. Their main carriers are aphids, in this regard, when this pest is found, you need to try to get rid of it as soon as possible. If the melon is affected by any of the listed diseases, then it must be removed from the ground and destroyed as soon as possible.

The fact is that to date, no effective drug for viral diseases has been found.Signs of viral diseases: areas with a mosaic color are formed on the leaf plates, internodes are shortened, the bush is lagging behind in development, the foliage is deformed, the ovaries are crumbling, and specks appear on the surface of the pumpkins.

Anthracnose

Anthracnose, popularly also known as "Copperhead". In this disease, yellow or pink-brown, rusty spots cover the leaves, which later become brittle and dry out. Fruits are also deformed and rotted.

Anthracnose can be prevented by completely removing plant debris at the landing site. Anthracnose is treated with Bordeaux liquid and sulfuric solution. Measures must be applied at the first signs of the disease.

Root rot

Weakened plants are susceptible to this disease. It is noteworthy that in young specimens, the roots and stem first become brown, after which their thinning is observed, and the bush withers. In an adult plant, yellowing and wilting of the aerial part is also observed, and the roots and the lower part of the stem are painted brown. For prophylaxis, before sowing, the seed must be kept for 5 minutes in a formalin solution (40%).

Melon aphid

One of the most common and unpleasant infestations of watermelons. The main culprit is the black aphid. Tiny insects, no more than 1-2 mm, attack watermelon plantations with great speed. They feel as comfortable as possible at a temperature of 12 degrees and high humidity. Colonies parasitize on the lower parts of the leaves. Due to the intensive reproduction, it seems that the watermelons are covered with aphids entirely.

Melon aphid

The main symptoms that help to correctly identify the cause of the disease:

leaves become twisted, fall off;

aphid colonies are visible to the naked eye;

flowers disappear and do not give ovary.

Aphids can lead to large crop losses. Plants die, and aphids move to pumpkin and squash crops. Insects are well adapted to cold temperatures.

Melon aphid

For the winter, they hide on weedy neighbors:

shepherd's bag;

sow thistle;

mustard;

radish.

Let's summarize

Each gardener can grow watermelons on his site, diseases and pests that are discussed in our material will not interfere with you in obtaining a magnificent harvest of sweet berries, if you follow the recommendations and take preventive measures. Descriptions and photos of fungi and parasites will help you detect and identify the problem in time, and successfully cope with it with folk remedies, without resorting to aggressive drugs.

As you can see, it is quite possible to grow a crop of melons and gourds. But this requires knowledge of phytopathology, protection from diseases and experience that comes with time. Diseases of watermelons and melons are easier to prevent than to fight.

Observe the crop rotation, carefully cover the remains of plants, add superphosphate to the hole when planting, which increases the immunity of plants.

If you do not live in the south, the quality of the melons will not be worse. Apply protected ground elements to cover the plants during the cold nights of May / June. In the event of a disease, it is important to correctly diagnose

Tags: watermelon, disease, fight, pest

About

«Previous post

Preventive measures

Preventive measures are the most effective method of control, since pathogens remain viable for several years in the soil, on inventory, weeds and plant debris.

The main methods of prevention:

Use seeds of healthy fruits for sowing, disinfect them.
Choose for sowing easily ventilated, well-lit areas where pumpkin crops have not been grown for the last 3-4 years.
Loosen the soil regularly.
Feed plants with nutrients and trace elements.
Maintain a comfortable temperature regime for soil and air.
Do not touch the leaves during morning and evening watering with water heated to 22-25 ° C.
Do not store damaged or rotten fruits with healthy berries.
In the areas where the incidence of the crop was noted, burn the plant residues.
In the fall, the soil cleared of plants is dug up onto the bayonet of a shovel and the earthen coma is turned over.

Melon processing

Bushes affected by a fungal disease are treated with fungicidal preparations, while at least 2-4 procedures are carried out. In the intervals between treatments, the use of preparations of contact properties is prohibited. It is also impossible to alternate fungicides from different chemical groups; either the same drug or its analogue must be used. The duration of breaks between treatments should not exceed 12 days. After the melons have been treated with the systemic fungicide for the last time, the contact agent can be used only when 8-10 days have passed, not earlier. Experts advise using systemic fungicides to treat young bushes that grow and develop intensively. At the same time, it is best to use contact preparations for processing adult specimens.