Cultural practices recommended for control of damping-off include ensuring crop residue

is well turned under or decomposed, avoiding planting in soils that are cool, and using healthy

transplants. Use of treated seeds is also suggested.

 Table 4.1 lists non-fumigant chemicals that can be used to control damping-off in

watermelon. Fumigant chemicals such as Vapam or Telone C-17 may also be effective in

control of this soilborne disease.



Table 4.1. Chemicals for the control of damping-off.

Common Name Trade Name

 Metalaxyl 2 Subdue G

 Metalaxyl 25 Subdue II

 Metalaxyl 25.1 Ridomil 2E


NOTE: For rate, use, and application to seed bed and field, refer to pp. 468-469 of the Florida
 Plant Disease Control Guide, 1993.



 Fusarium wilt, caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.niveum, infects the root

 and stem of a watermelon plant. An overall wilting may result or individual runners may be

 affected. Roots may become brown and a soft rot can sometimes develop near the crown

 (Maynard, 1992).

 Cultural practices used to control fusarium wilt include use of disease free transplants,

 removal of or plowing in plant debris after harvest, rotation with a non-susceptible crop,