Incorporation of plant materials in the control of root pathogens in muskmelon

Abstract

The effect of plant materials[Sunn Hemp (Crotalaria juncea), Castor Bean (Ricinus communis L.), Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) and Neem (Azadirachta indica)] and the times of incorporation of these materials in regards to the incidence of root rot in melon was evaluated in Ceará state, Brazil. The experiment was conducted in a commercial area with a history of root pathogens in cucurbitaceae. The randomized block design was used, in a 5 x 3 factorial arrangement with four repetitions. The treatments consisted of a combination of four plant materials (sunn hemp, castor beans, cassava and neem) and a control with no soil incorporation of plant material and three times of incorporation (28, 21, and 14 days before the transplanting of the seedlings). Lower incidence of root rot was observed in practically all of the treatments where materials were incorporated at different times, with variation between the materials, corresponding with the time of incorporation, in relation to the soil without plant material. The pathogens isolated from the symptomatic muskmelon plants were Fusarium solani, Macrophomina phaseolina, Monosporascus cannonballus and Rhizoctonia solani, F. solani being encountered most frequently.

Keywords

• Fusarium solani
• Macrophomina phaseolina
• Monosporascus cannonballus
• Organic material
• Rhizoctonia solani