Belly Rot of Cucurbit Crops
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Belly rot (Rhizoctonia solani) primarily affects cucumber and is found rarely on other cucurbits. Belly rot develops where fruit comes in contact with soil. Symptoms include sunken cankers (lesions) that are tan-brown in color and resemble a dry rot.
Belly rot on cucumber.
(Photo: Cheryl Kaiser, University of Kentucky)
Management:
- Physical barriers (mulches) to prevent fruit from contacting soil
- Irrigation management (avoid excessively wet soils)
- Deep-turning of soil before planting
- Fungicides
