Control of root rot and vine decline disease of muskmelon caused by Monosporascus cannonballus using grafting

Root rot and vine decline disease caused by Monosporascus cannonballus is one of the most important diseases of melon crops, especially in hot and arid regions of the world. In this study, at the first step the virulence of eight isolates of M. cannonballus were evaluated on the genotype of muskmelon, locally named Zard-e-Garmsar. The most virulent isolate (isolate 583) was then used to inoculate the muskmelon plants that grafted onto cucurbit rootstock. For this purpose, the scion of Zarde-e-Garmsar muskmelon on cucurbit rootstocks including cultivars T-1 and T-113 were tested as well as Ghasri Mashhadi (as a resistant cultivar) in greenhouse conditions. After rootstock and scion sown in pots that infected by isolates583, the grafting was done. Hybrid plants placed in plastic cover to retain moisture for 10 days. Rootstocks weight was applied to measure the disease 45 days after grafting. Grafting Zard-e-Garmsar muskmelon on described rootstocks was successful. There was no significant difference between the treatments of root weight. The cucurbit rootstocks and Ghasri Mashhadi muskmelon showed the most weight in presence or absence of pathogen. This study demonstrated that root rot and vine decline disease on sensitive melon and cantaloupe cultivars can be grafting onto resistant rootstocks or non-host plants.