A Scab Disease Caused by Cladosporium cucumberinum on Watermelon Seedlings

A scab disease occurred on watermelon seedlings by the infection of Cladosporium cucumberinum. This is the first report demonstrating the scab disease on watermelon in Korea. The casual agent attacked all plant parts of the seedlings on the ground. Infection sites were initiated with sunken and dark green spots, and then suddenly developed to large lesions softened with gummy substances. When hypocotyl and leaf stalk of seedlings were infected and softened, upper parts of seedlings were brokin down, dried and eventually died. Conidiophores of the fungus were characterized by pale olivaceous brown color, and variable length of about 3-5 mm in width. Conidia were formed I long branched chains, and conidium was ellipsoidal, fusiform or subspherical single cell mostly without septum. Morphological characteristics of the fungus were almost identical to Cladosporium cucumerinum Ellis & Authur. The fungus was also pathogenic to cucumber, squash and oriental melon, suggesting that it is a common pathogen to cucurbits. However, the fungus was not pathogenic to bottle gourd.