US (GA): CAES leads effort to tackle emerging threat to watermelon, cucumber production

Seven East Coast states harvested nearly 102,000 acres of watermelon and cucumber in 2019 and 2020, representing more than 62% ($410 million) and 45% ($180 million) of the U.S. production of the two crops, respectively. Growers of cucurbits — which include melons, pumpkin, squash, and cucumbers — face numerous challenges in production, leading to decreased profitability and less produce on grocery shelves. Weeds, insect pests, and plant diseases are prominent biotic threats. Among the plant diseases, one fungus — Colletotrichum spp., which causes anthracnose — is an emerging threat to watermelon and cucumber production on the east coast. “There is a huge threat from this particular disease,” said Bhabesh Dutta, associate professor in the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) and a UGA Cooperative Extension vegetable disease specialist. “Growers traditionally have been using Fungicide Resistance Action ...