Image 1

Causal Agent: (bacterium ‑ Erwinia spp.?)

The first symptoms are numerous brown, dry, hard, discolored areas in the rind. These areas enlarge and may merge to form extensive necrotic areas (Image 1). The disease rarely extends into the flesh of infected melons in the field. The disease occurs sporadically and is thought to be caused by bacteria that are naturally present in fruit, but the reasons for symptom development are not understood. Since usually there are no external symptoms, a small percentage of diseased melons could make the crop unmarketable, as diseased melons cannot be culled. There are no control measures.