TECHNICAL DOCUMENT ON CHARCOAL ROT OF CUCURBITS | Journal of Global Agriculture and Ecology

Cucurbit charcoal rot is a serious disease that has spread all over the world. As a result, the current knowledge of cucurbits charcoal rot disease epidemiology, symptoms and signs, disease cycle, ecology, and disease management strategies is summarised in this technical document. The pathogenic fungus Macrophomina phaseolina causes charcoal rot disease. The fungi are members of the Botryosphaeriaceae family, Botryosphaeriales order, Dothideomycetes class, and Ascomycota phylum. Both pycnidia and sclerotia are produced by M. phaseolina in both host tissues and culture media. The disease symptoms on the plant include spindle-shaped, water-soaked lesions on the stem, vine decline, wilt, and host plant decline, all of which lead to plant death. The lesions gradually dried out, turned tan, and cracked. As a result, the affected plants deteriorate and die before harvest. Seedlings can also develop sunken cankers. The fungus also attacked the fruits, particularly those that came into contact with the soil. There are a lot of black microsclerotia around the infection sites. These microsclerotia are mostly found at a depth of 0-20 cm, and they are found in clusters at the soil surface. Depending on the environment and the presence of plant residues, they can live for 2 to 15 years. As a result, they are considered the main surviving propagules throughout the seasons. Plant root exudates cause these microsclerotia to germinate, resulting in root infection. The pathogen propagule in soil and host roots can be reduced, and the disease can be managed by avoiding favourable conditions for pathogen survival and propagation. Charcoal rot disease is affected by agricultural methods (irrigation type, fertilisation with organic amendments, tillage, etc.), grafted plants, and solarization. Some chemical fungicides, such as azoxystrobin, difenoconazole, carbendazim, and benomyl, can be used to control disease in the lab and in the field. Biocontrol agents such as Bacillus spp., Streptomyces spp., Pseudomonas spp., Trichoderma spp., and Gliocladium spp. are also used to prevent host infection or suppress pathogen growth, thereby reducing disease. All of the methods successfully controlled the disease and reduced the severity of the disease to varying degrees.

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