Bacterial Wilt of Cucurbit Crops
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Bacterial wilt (Erwinia tracheiphila) affects cucumber and muskmelon most severely; however, this disease may occur on any cucurbit. Initially, individual leaves or groups of leaves wilt on vines followed by rapid wilting of entire runners or whole plants. Collapsed foliage may be dark green in appearance and will later become necrotic. Cut stems may emit a sticky exudate, and a slight discoloration of xylem tissue may be seen—key diagnostic features for this disease. Cucumber beetles are the vector of this disease. The beetles or evidence of their feeding are often present on symptomatic vines and leaves.
Bacterial wilt in pumpkin field.
(Photo: William Nesmith, University of Kentucky)
Sticky exudate in infected stem.
(Photo: John Hartman, University of Kentucky)
Management:
- Begin an insect management program early (at emergence or transplanting) to prevent feeding by cucumber beetles.
- Protectant plants with netting or row covers.
- Promptly remove and destroy diseased plant material during the growing season.
- Rotate with nonhost crops for at least 3 years.
- Refer also to the section on cucumber beetles.
