The Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum: Causal Agent of Vascular Withering of Watermelon

Abstract

Objective: To describe Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum (Fon) as the causal agent of vascular withering in the watermelon crop (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum and Nakai). Design/Methodology/Approach: A review of scientific literature (scientific books, notes and articles) was carried out about Fon as the causal agent of vascular withering in the watermelon crop; biology, symptoms, disease cycle, isolation and management alternatives. Results: Withering from Fusarium in watermelon is the main fungal disease of this crop worldwide. Necrosis of the vascular tissue and withering of the plant are the most characteristic symptoms of the disease. There are four races of this fungus (Fon race 0, 1, 2 and 3); the commercial varieties of watermelons have different degrees of resistance to these races. Practices such as the correct diagnosis, use of grafts, solarization, fungicides, biological products and genetic resistance can significantly reduce the impact of the disease on the production. Findings/Conclusions: In Mexico, knowledge about vascular withering of watermelon is scarce despite this disease being one of the factors that limits commercial production. The greatest knowledge about the symptoms, the fungus’s biology, presence and distribution of races, diagnosis and alternatives of Fon management, will allow integrating appropriate management practices that favor the commercial production of the crop.