• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.45-51
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• 2001

A root rot/vine decline disease occurred naturally on bottle gourd-stocked watermelon, melon, oriental melon and squash grown in greenhouses, but not on these plants grown in fields. Self-rooted watermelon, cucumber, pumpkin and luffa were also proven to be hosts of the pathogen by artificial inoculation in this experiment. The pathogen was identified as Monosporascus cannonballus by comparing microscopic characteristics of fungal structures with those of previously identified fungal strains. Our field investigations showed that the temperature and electric conductivity of soil in infected greenhouses were higher and the soil moisture content was lower than in noninfected greenhouses. To investigate soil-environmental factors affecting disease development, greenhouse trials and inoculation experiments were conducted. The host plants inoculated and grown under conditions of high soil temperature and electrical conductivity ($35\pm2^{\circ}$, 3.2-3.5 mS) and with low soil moisture content (pF 3.0-4.5) were most severely damaged by the fungal disease. Since plants growing in greenhouses ae usually exposed to such environmental conditions, this may be the reason why the monosporascus root rot/vine decline disease has occurred only on cucurbits cultivated in greenhouses but not in field conditions.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.245-249
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• 2002

Monosporascus cannonballus, a soilborne ascomycetes is recently described in Korea that causes root rot/vine decline of cucurbits. The effect of Monosporascus root rot disease on photosynthetic activity and growth was studied on oriental melon plants. At harvest stage, photosynthetic activity of diseased oriental melon plants was lower and stomatal resistance was higher than healthy plants, while xylem exudates were not observed in diseased plants. There was no difference in mineral contents of the leaves and stems between diseased and healthy plants. Leaf area, fresh and dry weights, and fruit weights of the plants were markedly decreased in diseased plants compared to those of healthy plants.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.614-622
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• 2014

Melons (Cucumis melo L.) are generally grafted onto Cucurbita rootstocks to manage soilborne pathogens such as Monosporascus root rot and v ine decline (MRR/VD) and Fusarium wilt. However, g rafting onto Cucurbita rootstocks reportedly results in the reduction of fruit quality. In this study, the resistance to MRR/VD, yield, and fruit quality of melons grafted onto melon rootstocks were evaluated under greenhouse conditions. Eight melon rootstocks (R1 to R8) were used and the inodorus melon 'Homerunstar' was used as scion. Melon rootstocks R1 to R6 were selected based on resistance to MRR/VD under greenhouse conditions. Non-grafted 'Homerunstar' and plants grafted onto squash interspecific hybrid 'Shintozwa' rootstock (Cucurbita maxima D. ${\times}$ C. moschata D.) served as controls. Grafted melons were cultivated in the greenhouse infested with Monosporascus cannonballus during two growing seasons (summer and autumn). The responses to MRR/VD, yield, and fruit quality differed depending on the rootstocks and growing season. The melons grafted onto 'Shintozwa' exhibited less severe disease symptoms and higher survival rates than non-grafted melons in both seasons. While the melon rootstocks in the summer cultivation did not increase the survival rate compared to non-grafted melons, the melon rootstocks R1 and R2 in the autumn cultivation led to higher survival rates. The melon rootstocks resistant to MRR/VD increased the percentage of marketable fruits and marketable yields. Grafting onto the melon rootstocks caused little or no reduction of fruit quality such as low calcium content, fruit softening, and vitrescence, especially in lower-temperature autumn season. Accordingly, these results suggest that grafting onto the melon rootstocks may increase the tolerance to MRR/VD and the marketable yield without a reduction of fruit quality.