*Hand harvest grain yields and harvest indexes for single row varieties (left) and main plot varieties (right) Characterisation and Management of Fusarium Wilt of Watermelon Contact: Lucy Tran-Nguyen Molecular Scientist – Reference to the DPIF Industry Development Plan 2013-2017: 1.1 Provide security and certainty to encourage investment. Project Status: Commenced. Below left: Fusarium wilt is one of the most severe diseases of watermelon and is caused by a Fusarium wilt of fungus called Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum (Fon). This strain is only pathogenic watermelons in the on watermelons and can be divided into four (0, 1, 2 and 3). The disease is one of field (Source: B. the major yield-limiting factors in production worldwide. Fon was first detected in the Condé) Northern Territory (NT) in May 2011. The disease affected three different varieties of watermelon seedlings and plants from six different locations. To date, two of the races Below right: have been detected in Australia. However, there is limited published information about Pathogenicity trials the Australian Fon races. It is unclear what race the NT Fon strain is, whether it is a of watermelon new race, and its level of aggressiveness. seedlings (Source: B. Condé) The project aims to identify the NT Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum race(s) and compare it with Fon races in Australia and overseas, screen rootstocks and grafted watermelons for resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum [all race(s)], assess the temperature effect on Fusarium wilt of watermelon under a controlled environment and field trials, assess the effect of rotational cropping options (e.g. Fumig8tor sorghum) on the suppression of Fusarium wilt of watermelon, extension strategies to raise awareness of Fusarium wilt of watermelon, deliver outcomes to industry and propose management strategies.
*Hand harvest grain yields and harvest indexes for single row varieties (left) and main plot varieties (right) Characterisation and Management of Fusarium Wilt of Watermelon Contact: Lucy Tran-Nguyen – Molecular Scientist Reference to the DPIF Industry Development Plan 2013-2017: 1.1 Provide security and certainty to encourage investment. Project Status: Commenced. Fusarium wilt is one of the most severe diseases of watermelon and is caused by a fungus called Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum (Fon). This strain is only pathogenic on watermelons and can be divided into four (0, 1, 2 and 3). The disease is one of the major yield-limiting factors in production worldwide. Fon was first detected in the Northern Territory (NT) in May 2011. The disease affected three different varieties of watermelon seedlings and plants from six different locations. To date, two of the races have been detected in Australia. However, there is limited published information about the Australian Fon races. It is unclear what race the NT Fon strain is, whether it is a new race, and its level of aggressiveness. The project aims to identify the NT Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum race(s) and compare it with Fon races in Australia and overseas, screen rootstocks and grafted watermelons for resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum [all race(s)], assess the temperature effect on Fusarium wilt of watermelon under a controlled environment and field trials, assess the effect of rotational cropping options (e.g. Fumig8tor sorghum) on the suppression of Fusarium wilt of watermelon, extension strategies to raise awareness of Fusarium wilt of watermelon, deliver outcomes to industry and propose management strategies. Below left: Fusarium wilt of watermelons in the field (Source: B. Condé) Below right: Pathogenicity trials of watermelon seedlings (Source: B. Condé)
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