h p://www.uem.b /ac a
ISSN p in ed: 1679-9275
ISSN on-line: 1807-8621
Ac a Scien ia um
Doi: 10.4025/ac asciag on. 36i3.17656
Ac a Scien ia um. Ag onomy Ma ingá, . 36, n. 3, p. 281-289, July-Sep ., 2014
E ec s o wounding, humidi y, empe a u e, and inoculum
concen a ions on he se e i y o co ky d y o caused by Fusa ium
semi ec um in melon ui s
Michelle Ja delina de Oli ei a1, Delson La anjei a1, Ma cos Paz Sa ai a Câma a1, F ancisco
Fe az La anjei a2, Josep A mengol3 and Sami Jo ge Miche e 1
1Depa amen o de Ag onomia, Uni e sidade Fede al Ru al de Pe nambuco, Rua Dom Manoel de Medei os, s/n, 52171-900, Reci e, Pe nambuco,
B azil. 2Labo a ó io de Fi opa ologia, Emb apa Mandioca e F u icul u a, C uz das Almas, Bahia, B azil. 3Ins i u o Ag o o es al Medi e áneo,
Uni e sidad Poli écnica de Valencia, Valencia, Spain. *Au ho o co espondence. E-mail: [email p o ec ed]
ABSTRACT. Co ky d y o , caused by Fusa ium semi ec um, is he main pos ha es disease o melons in
B azil. This s udy in es iga ed he e ec s o wounding, humidi y, empe a u e, and inoculum
concen a ion on he se e i y o co ky d y o unde con olled condi ions. Can aloupe and honeydew
melon ypes we e inocula ed by sp aying conidial suspensions o h ee F. semi ec um isola es. In all
expe imen s, he es ed F. semi ec um isola es did no di e in ela ion o disease se e i y, bu , he can aloupe
melon showed highe le els o se e i y. No lesions appea ed on ui s ha lacked wounds, and inc easing
wound age educed lesion se e i y. Melons ha we e inocula ed wi h F. semi ec um de eloped symp oms
ega dless o he p esence o absence o a mois chambe a he pos -inocula ion s age, bu he lesions we e la ge
unde mois chambe condi ions. The e we e no symp oms a 10°C, bu a empe a u e inc ease om 15 o 25°C
esul ed in a disease se e i y inc ease. The la ges lesions we e obse ed when bo h melon ypes we e inocula ed
wi h a concen a ion o 106 conidia mL-1, bu e en he lowes concen a ion (101 conidia mL-1) was su icien o
causing lesions. Inju y educ ion and/o he accele a ion o melon healing, as well as en i onmen al a iable
con ol and a educ ion o inoculum sou ces, a e essen ial o educing co ky d y o se e i y.
Keywo ds: Cucumis melo, ui o , pos ha es pa hology, epidemiology.
E ei o de e imen o, umidade, empe a u a e concen ação de inóculo na se e idade da
pod idão seca causada po Fusa ium semi ec um em u os de melão
RESUMO. A pod idão seca causada po Fusa ium semi ec um é a p incipal doença pós-colhei a do melão no
B asil. Es e es udo in es igou o e ei o de e imen o, umidade, empe a u a e concen ação de inóculo na
se e idade da pod idão seca em condições con oladas. F u os de melão dos ipos can aloupe e honeydew
o am inoculados po meio da pul e ização de suspensão de conídios de ês isolados de F. semi ec um,
inoculados sepa adamen e. Em odos os expe imen os os isolados de F. semi ec um es ados não di e i am
em elação à se e idade da doença, po ém, a a iedade can aloupe ap esen ou maio es ní eis de se e idade
da doença. Não hou e lesões em u os sem e imen o e o inc emen o na idade do e imen o eduziu a
se e idade. Melões inoculados com F. semi ec um desen ol e am sin omas independen emen e de câma a
úmida pós-inoculação, mas as lesões o am maio es em condições de câma a úmida. Não hou e sin omas a
10°C, mas o aumen o da empe a u a de 15 pa a 25°C esul ou num inc emen o da se e idade da doença.
As maio es lesões o am obse adas na concen ação de inóculo de 106 conídios mL-1 nos dois ipos de
melão, mas a meno concen ação (101 conídios mL-1) oi su icien e pa a causa leões. A diminuição de
injú ias nos u os de melão e/ou a acele ação da cica ização, bem como o con ole das a iá eis ambien ais
e a edução das on es de inóculo são essenciais pa a edução da se e idade da pod idão seca.
Pala as-cha e: Cucumis melo, pod idão do u o, pa ologia pós-colhei a, epidemiologia.
In oduc ion
Melon (Cucumis melo L.) is an economically
impo an c op in B azil, whe e i ep esen s he
second la ges B azilian esh ui expo , and places
he coun y among he op en melon expo e s in he
wo ld. The no heas e n egion o B azil accoun s o
85% o he coun y’s melon p oduc ion and co e s
app oxima ely 14,900 ha. The main p oducing a eas a e
loca ed in he S a es o Rio G ande do No e, wi h
7,582 ha esul ing in an annual p oduc ion o 201,250
on, and Cea á, wi h 4,304 ha esul ing in an annual
p oduc ion o 124,157 on (AGRIANUAL, 2012).
Pos ha es o s cause se e e losses in B azilian
melon p oduc ion. I is es ima ed ha be ween 10 o
282 Oli ei a e al.
Ac a Scien ia um. Ag onomy Ma ingá, . 36, n. 3, p. 281-289, July-Sep ., 2014
30% o pos ha es losses a e due o co ky d y o ,
which is caused by Fusa ium semi ec um Be k. &
Ra enel. (Synonym: Fusa ium inca na um (Robe ge)
Sacc., Fusa ium pallido oseum (Cooke) Sacc.). This
disease was de ec ed in 1999 in melons om Rio
G ande do No e S a e, and i s incidence has
p og essi ely inc eased (TERAO e al., 2008).
Co ky d y o is a majo cause o can aloupe
melon losses (C. melo a . can aloupensis Naud.)
(BRUTON, 1995; BRUTON; DUTHIE, 1996;
CARTER, 1979; MCGOVERN, 1994), bu he o
also a ec s honeydews (C. melo a . inodo us H.
Jacq.) and se e al o he melon a ie ies (BRUTON,
1995; BRUTON e al., 1998; BRUTON;
DUTHIE, 1996; DIAS; TERAO, 2006).
Disease symp oms may appea in he ield (a he
p eha es phase), close o ui ma u i y, o in he
pos ha es phase. Lesions a e a iable in leng h,
om 2 mm o 8 cm, and hey also a y in dep h,
om 2 mm o 3 cm. They a e especially p e alen
on he s ems and he blossom ends o he ui , bu
hey can occu on any a ea o he ui . E idence o
his disease consis s o a hickening o he ne and/o
de elopmen o co ky issue along he ein ac s.
C acks a e o en ound in la ge lesions. Unde high
humidi y, a ligh pink o beige mycelium appea s on
he ind su ace immedia ely abo e he co ky lesion.
A ec ed zones will i s appea as small whi e
spongy a eas benea h he ind. In ime, hese a eas
will u n da k b own, d y, and mealy. In la ge
lesions, he b own issue is su ounded by a whi e,
mois , spongy issue ha ex ends in o he lesh o
he ui . A dis inc ma gin sepa a es he diseased
and heal hy issues, and he lesion can easily be
emo ed in ac om he lesh (BRUTON; DUTHIE,
1996; CARTER, 1979; MCGOVERN, 1994).
Con olling co ky d y o is e y di icul .
The e o e, i is essen ial o adop in eg a ed
managemen s a egies. The e is no known
esis ance o co ky d y o (MCGRATH, 2004).
P eha es ungicide applica ions ha e been
somewha ine ec i e because o he di icul y o
eaching su icien ui co e age. A emp s a
pos ha es con ol ha e also yielded e a ic
esul s. Using ungicides in combina ion wi h a
ho -wa e ea men (57°C o 1 min.) has
p o ided some success in con olling he disease,
bu s udy esul s on hese combined ea men s
a e inconclusi e. Wounding a oidance du ing
ha es and packing, p ope s o age and ansi
empe a u es, and p omp handling o melons
upon a i al a he ma ke can p o ide some
p o ec ion agains pos ha es decay (BRUTON,
1995; BRUTON; DUTHIE, 1996). Mo e
ecen ly, he con ol o co ky d y o h ough he
ac i a ion o sys emic esis ance (BI e al., 2010;
GE e al., 2008; GONDIM e al., 2008) and he
use o e hylene inhibi o s (ALVES e al., 2005;
TERAO e al., 2009) ha e been in es iga ed, bu
wi h highly a iable esul s.
B azilian melons ha a e expo ed, pa icula ly
hose ha a e des ined o he Eu opean Union
coun ies, a e equi ed o be o high quali y,
undamaged, and phy opa hogen- ee. Co ky d y o
ep esen s a se ious obs acle o he
comme cializa ion o melons, pa icula ly as o eign
commodi ies (GONDIM e al., 2008). Melon ui s
ha a e a ec ed by co ky d y o a e no ma ke able.
Al hough a wo king knowledge abou he condi ions
ha a o disease de elopmen is essen ial o
imp o e disease managemen s a egies, li le
in o ma ion is a ailable on he epidemiology o
co ky d y o in melon (BRUTON; DUTHIE,
1996).
The p esen s udy was unde aken o e alua e
he e ec s o wounding, humidi y, empe a u e, and
inoculum concen a ions o F. semi ec um on he
se e i y o co ky d y o in melons unde con olled
condi ions.
Ma e ial and me hods
Fungal isola es
Th ee single-spo e F. semi ec um isola es (CMM-
589, CMM-685 and CMM-687) we e used o all
expe imen s. The isola es we e ob ained om
melon ui s ha we e exhibi ing symp oms o co ky
d y o in h ee g owing a eas o no heas e n B azil,
which a e loca ed in he ag icul u al a ea o Mosso ó
(Rio G ande do No e S a e). The isola es we e
mo phologically iden i ied as F. semi ec um a e
being g own on po a o dex ose aga (PDA)
(Acumedia Co., Lansing, MI, USA) and Spezielle
Näh s o a me aga (SNA) cul u e media (LESLIE;
SUMMERELL, 2006) o 10 days a 25ºC wi h a 12-h
pho ope iod. Addi ionally, pa o he ansla ion
elonga ion ac o 1-alpha (EF1-α) gene was used o
con i m he iden i y o his Fusa ium species h ough
a BLAST DNA sequence da abase sea ch
(h p://isola e. usa iumdb.o g). A ep esen a i e
sequence o he DNA egion o s udy om isola e
CMM-687 was deposi ed a GenBank (JQ004800).
This sequence had a 99.06% simila i y wi h he
sequence o F. semi ec um (= F. pallido oseum)
(NRRL 31160).
All expe imen s we e conduc ed wice. P io
o he expe imen s, he isola es we e cul i a ed in
Pe i dishes con aining PDA and incuba ed a
25 ± 2ºC wi h a 12-h pho ope iod using
luo escen ligh (40 μmol m-2 s
-1) o 10 days.
Epidemiology co ky d y o melon ui s 283
Ac a Scien ia um. Ag onomy Ma ingá, . 36, n. 3, p. 281-289, July-Sep ., 2014
Fungal inoculum was p epa ed by gen ly insing
he aga su ace wi h s e ile wa e and, hen,
il e ing he esul ing mycelium and conidia
suspensions h ough ou laye s o cheeseclo h.
The conidia suspensions we e coun ed wi h a
hemocy ome e and adjus ed by adding s e ile ap
wa e . Be o e inocula ion, Tween 20 (0.05%) was
added o he inoculum. The ge mina ion o each
ba ch o inoculum was measu ed p io o
inocula ion o ensu e conidia iabili y.
Suspensions wi h less han 90% conidia
ge mina ion we e disca ded.
F ui s
Melon ui s om can aloupe (c . To eon) and
honeydew (c . O ange Flesh) ypes we e ha es ed
om a comme cial plan a ion a he ipening s age
and selec ed o uni o mi y o size, ipeness, and
absence o inju ies. These ui s we e used in all he
expe imen s. Be o e inocula ion, he ui s we e
ca e ully washed, su ace-disin es ed by imme sion
in a 1.5% NaOCl solu ion in s e ile wa e o 5 min.,
insed wice wi h s e ile dis illed wa e , and allowed
o ai d y on a labo a o y bench.
Wounding e ec s
Wounded and non-wounded ui s we e used in
his expe imen . To make wounded ui s, he
epide mis was punc u ed a ou equidis an poin s.
Fi e wounds (3 mm deep and 0.8 mm wide) we e
made a each poin wi h a s e ile needle p io o
inocula ion. Immedia ely a e wounding, ui s
we e sp ayed wi h a conidial suspension (2 mL pe
ui , wi h 106 conidia mL-1 in s e ile wa e plus
Tween 20 (0.05%)) o each F. semi ec um isola e.
Con ol ui s we e inocula ed wi h s e ile wa e
plus Tween 20 (0.05%). The inocula ed and con ol
ui s we e placed on plas ic mois chambe s
(50 x 30 x 20 cm). To encou age high humidi y, he
bo om o each mois chambe was lined wi h a
dis illed wa e -soaked pape owels. T ays we e kep
in g ow h chambe s a 25 ± 2ºC unde luo escen
ligh (12-h pho ope iod, 40 μmol m-2 s
-1). F ui s
we e emo ed om he mois chambe s a e 48h o
incuba ion and we e kep a he same empe a u e
o an addi ional 3-day pe iod. The lesion size
(mm2) a each inocula ed poin was measu ed 5 days
a e inocula ion by measu ing i s leng h and wid h
in wo pe pendicula di ec ions. The ull ac o ial
combina ion o he ea men s (3 x 2 x 2), which a e
ep esen ed by h ee F. semi ec um isola es, wo
melon a ie ies and wounded and non-wounded
ui s, was a anged in a comple ely andomized
design wi h ou eplica es pe ea men and i e
ui s pe eplica e.
Wound age e ec s
Wounded ui s we e sp ayed wi h a conidial
suspension (2 mL pe ui ; 106 conidia mL-1 in s e ile
wa e plus Tween 20 (0.05%)) o each F. semi ec um
isola e. The inocula ions we e ca ied ou
immedia ely a e wounding, and 12 and 24h a e .
The con ol ui s we e inocula ed wi h s e ile wa e
and Tween 20 (0.05%). The incuba ion condi ions
and disease e alua ion we e ca ied ou he same way
as desc ibed in he expe imen on wounding e ec s.
The ull ac o ial combina ion o ea men s (3 x 2 x 3),
which ep esen ed h ee F. semi ec um isola es, wo
melon a ie ies and h ee wound ages, was a anged
in a comple ely andomized design wi h ou
eplica es pe ea men and i e ui s pe eplica e.
Humidi y e ec s
Wounded ui s we e inocula ed wi h
F. semi ec um isola es by sp aying (2 mL pe ui ;
106 conidia mL-1 in s e ile wa e plus Tween 20
(0.05%)) he ui s immedia ely a e wounding.
Con ol ui s we e inocula ed wi h s e ile wa e and
Tween 20 (0.05%). The inocula ed and con ol
ui s we e subjec ed o wo di e en condi ions:
incuba ion in mois chambe s o incuba ion wi hou
mois chambe s, bo h o 48h. The incuba ion
condi ions, expe imen al design and disease
e alua ion we e he same as desc ibed o he
wounding e ec s expe imen .
Tempe a u e e ec s
F ui s we e wounded and inocula ed wi h
F. semi ec um isola es by sp aying (2 mL pe ui ;
106 conidia mL-1 in s e ile wa e and Tween 20
(0.05%)) he ui s immedia ely a e wounding. The
con ol ui s we e inocula ed wi h s e ile wa e and
Tween 20 (0.05%). The inocula ed and con ol ui s
we e placed in mois chambe s and, hen, incuba ed in
g ow h chambe s a 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35°C
unde luo escen ligh (12-h pho ope iod, 40 μmol
m-2 s
-1). A e 48h o incuba ion, he ui s we e
emo ed om he mois chambe s and le o an
addi ional 3-day pe iod a he same empe a u es. The
disease e alua ion was pe o med as desc ibed o he
wounding e ec expe imen . The ull ac o ial
combina ion o ea men s (3 x 2 x 7), which
ep esen ed h ee F. semi ec um isola es, wo melon
a ie ies and se en empe a u es, was a anged in a
comple ely andomized design wi h ou eplica es pe
ea men and i e ui s pe eplica e.
Inoculum concen a ion e ec s
F ui s we e inocula ed by sp aying hem wi h a
conidial suspension (2 mL pe ui ) o each
F. semi ec um isola e immedia ely a e wounding,
284 Oli ei a e al.
Ac a Scien ia um. Ag onomy Ma ingá, . 36, n. 3, p. 281-289, July-Sep ., 2014
a six di e en concen a ions (101, 102, 103, 104,
105, o 106 conidia mL-1 in s e ile wa e and
Tween 20 (0.05%)). Con ol ui s we e
inocula ed wi h s e ile wa e and Tween 20
(0.05%). The incuba ion condi ions and disease
e alua ion we e he same as hose desc ibed in he
expe imen on wounding e ec s. The ull
ac o ial combina ion o ea men s (3 x 2 x 6),
which ep esen ed h ee F. semi ec um isola es, wo
melon a ie ies and six inoculum concen a ions,
was a anged in a comple ely andomized design
wi h ou eplica es pe ea men and i e ui s
pe eplica e.
S a is ical analysis
Analyses o a iance (ANOVAs) we e conduc ed
wi h da a ha we e ob ained om he expe imen s
on he e ec s o wounding, wound age, humidi y,
empe a u e, and inoculum concen a ion. In all
cases, ANOVA analyses indica ed ha he da a
be ween he wo epe i ions we e simila (p > 0.05),
and hus he da a om all a iables in bo h
expe imen s we e combined. Fi s , he da a om
each expe imen we e subjec ed o h ee-way
ANOVA analyses. In all expe imen s, he
F. semi ec um isola es did no di e signi ican ly
(p > 0.05) among one ano he in ela ion o he
le els o disease se e i y ha hey could induce, and
signi ican in e ac ions wi h melon ypes we e no
ound. On he o he hand, signi ican di e ences in
disease le els be ween he di e en melon ypes
we e ound in all expe imen s. The e o e, only he
isola es’ a e ages wi hin each melon ype we e
conside ed ac oss all s a is ical analyses. The
wounding and humidi y ea men s we e compa ed
using S uden ’s - es (p ≤ 0.05), whe eas he
wound age ea men s we e compa ed using Fishe ’s
LSD es (p  0.05). These s a is ical analyses we e
pe o med wi h S a is ix . 9.0 so wa e (Analy ical
So wa e, Tallahassee, FL, USA). Da a om he
empe a u e and inoculum concen a ion
expe imen s we e analyzed by i ing linea and
nonlinea eg ession models wi h he aid o
TableCu e 2D . 5.01 so wa e (SYSTAT So wa e
Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). The bes - i cu es
showing co ky d y o se e i y (lesion size) we e
selec ed on he basis o he coe icien o
de e mina ion (R2) and he mean squa ed esidue.
The signi icance o he eg essions and hei
pa ame e s we e e i ied by F es (p ≤ 0.05).
Resul s and discussion
This is he i s s udy in which he e ec s o
wounding, humidi y, empe a u e, and F. semi ec um
inoculum concen a ion ha e been de e mined wi h
ela ion o he se e i y o co ky d y o in melon
ui s.
The h ee F. semi ec um isola es did no di e
signi ican ly (p > 0.05) among hemsel es in
ela ion o he le els o induced disease se e i y in
any o he expe imen s. High le els o in aspeci ic
a iabili y exis wi hin F. semi ec um isola es ha a e
ob ained om a single hos , such as co on (ABD-
ELSALAM e al., 2003), al al a (ZACCARDELLI
e al., 2006) and ed- leshed d agon ui (HAWA
e al., 2010). In ou case, he occu ence F. semi ec um
isola es wi h simila i ulence le els in melon ui s
may be due o he low numbe o isola es because
hey all came om he same ag icul u al egion.
Rega ding he e ec s o di e en melon
a ie ies, he can aloupe showed signi ican ly
(p  0.05) highe le els o co ky d y o se e i y in
all expe imen s han hose o he honeydew (Figu es
1A, B, C, 2 and 3). The suscep ibili y di e ence
be ween hese melon a ie ies may be associa ed
wi h he s uc u al cha ac e is ics o he ui
epide mis. Honeydew melons ha e a conside ably
hicke epide mis and no ne in compa ison o
can aloupes. The memb ane in eg i y o he
hypode mal issue in melon ui s appea s o be
highly co ela ed o hei shel li e (LESTER, 1988).
Wounding e ec s
The e was no appea ance o symp oms in
melon ui s when inocula ions we e pe o med
wi hou wounding (Figu e 1A), indica ing ha he
pa hogen is unable o pene a e he ui di ec ly.
F ui inju ies we e essen ial o ini ia ing he
in ec ion p ocess, which acili a ed pa hogen
pene a ion. In addi ion, inju ed issue inc eases
he me abolic ac i i y o inju ed cells (GUZMÁN
e al., 1999), leading o an ele a ed espi a ion a e,
induc ion o e hylene syn hesis, and inc eased
wa e loss, esul ing in accele a ed ui
de e io a ion (ADASKAVEG e al., 2002;
JACOMINO e al., 2004). In he ield, melon ui s
can su e a ious o ms o inju ies du ing c op
managemen , such as when ui s a e d agged on he
g ound, h ough in e ac ions wi h cu ing
ins umen s o small s ones, o by he ac i i y o
insec s, which end o sc ape he su ace, lea e pi s,
o pene a e he ui s in hei sea ch o ood
(VIANA e al., 2001). I is also wo h no ing ha he
pene a ion o melon ui s by F. semi ec um can also
occu h ough na u al openings, including len icels
o c acks in he epide mis ha a e associa ed wi h
ne de elopmen (BRUTON e al., 1998).
Epidemiology co ky d y o melon ui s 285
Ac a Scien ia um. Ag onomy Ma ingá, . 36, n. 3, p. 281-289, July-Sep ., 2014
A
aB
aA
bA
aB
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
Non Wounded Wounded
Wounding
Lesion size (mm
2
)
Can aloupe
Hone yde w
B
aC
aB
aA
bA
bB
bC
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
01224
Wound age (hou s)
Lesion size (mm
2
)
Can aloupe
Honeydew
C
aA
aB
bB
bA
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
Wi hou Wi h
Humid chambe
Lesion size (mm
2
)
Can aloupe
Honeydew
Figu e 1. E ec o wounding (A), wound age (B) and humidi y
(C) on co ky d y o se e i y (as indica ed by lesion size) in
can aloupe (c . To eon) and honeydew (c . O ange Flesh) melon
ypes inocula ed wi h Fusa ium semi ec um. Values a e p esen ed as
he means om wo independen expe imen s. Values ollowed
by he same lowe -case le e o melon ypes and capi al le e o
wounding, wound ages and humidi y condi ions do no di e
signi ican ly acco ding o Fishe ’s LSD es (p  0.05).
Wound age e ec s
F ui wound ages signi ican ly in luenced he
se e i y o co ky d y o . This ac o was also ound
o educe he lesion size wi h inc easing wound age
(Figu e 1B). In bo h melon a ie ies, he lesions
we e la ge in ui s ha we e immedia ely
inocula ed a e wounding han in he o he
ea men s. This may be a consequence o inc eased
wa e a ailabili y in he o m o exuda es ha we e
eleased soon a e he inju y. The healing p ocess
may also ha e in luenced he disease se e i y
because he can aloupe p oduces lignin and sube in
du ing issue healing, deposi ing hese compounds
on he walls o inju ed cells o o m a lesion
pe ide m (JACOMINO e al., 2004), which may
p o ide a s uc u al esis ance mechanism agains
in ec ion. Ano he aspec o conside is ha esh
wounds gene ally accele a e he a e o espi a ion
and e hylene syn hesis because o he ensuing high
me abolic ac i i y o cell wounds ha occu wi hin
minu es a e cu ing (GUZMÁN e al., 1999). The
lowe se e i y ha was obse ed in olde wounds
can also be a ibu ed o an accumula ion o
phy oalexins and pa hogenesis- ela ed (PR) p o eins
in esponse o mechanical inju y, which can inhibi
pa hogen ac ions. Phy oalexins a e p oduced by
heal hy cells nea he inju y si e in esponse o
subs ances ha a e p oduced in damaged cells,
which accumula e and can p o ide esis ance o he
co ky d y o ungus (ADASKAVEG e al., 2002).
Humidi y e ec s
The melon ui s ha we e inocula ed wi h
F. semi ec um de eloped symp oms o co ky d y o
ega dless o he p esence o absence o a mois
chambe (Figu e 1C), indica ing ha ee wa e was
no needed, a leas no in he o m o condensa ion
on he ui su ace, o spo e ge mina ion and hos
pene a ion. This esul con as s wi h he
obse a ion ha he p esence o a ilm o wa e is
essen ial o F. semi ec um spo e ge mina ion
(PEREZ; VIDAL, 2002). The occu ence o
in ec ions by his pa hogen in he absence o a mois
chambe indica es ha he me e mois u e ha is
associa ed wi h exuda es ha we e eleased by he
ui a e wounding was su icien o s a he
p ocesses ha we e in ol ed in pa hogenesis, as also
ound in yellow melon ui s inocula ed wi h he
bac e ium Acido o ax a enae subsp. ci ulli (Schaad
e al.) Willems e al. (SILVEIRA e al., 2004).
Mo eo e , i is impo an o conside ha
F. semi ec um is esis an o low humidi y condi ions
and can emain in he ield o long pe iods unde
condi ions o ex eme d ough (BADGER, 1965).
Co ky d y o lesions we e highe in ui s ha
we e subjec ed o a mois chambe (Figu e 1C),
indica ing ha high mois u e s imula es he
in ec ion p ocess by F. semi ec um and/o inc eases
hos suscep ibili y, in luencing he a e o disease
p og ession and demons a ing he g ea es se e i y,
as has been obse ed p e iously in banana ui s

286 Oli ei a e al.
Ac a Scien ia um. Ag onomy Ma ingá, . 36, n. 3, p. 281-289, July-Sep ., 2014
a e ha es (PEREZ; VIDAL, 2002). The mois u e
loss o esh p oduce is de e mined by ela i e
humidi y. High le els o humidi y help o main ain
ui u gidi y and o educe wa e loss bu may also
be conduci e o disease de elopmen
(ADASKAVEG e al., 2002). In he melon-
p oducing a eas o no heas e n B azilian, he e is
no high humidi y occu ence du ing he day.
Howe e , he e a e se e al sho pe iods o we ness
a nigh . This dampness may be su icien o
s imula e he F. semi ec um in ec ion p ocess, as also
happens in o he pa hosys ems in semi-a id egions
(ROTEM, 1978). The dew o ma ion ha occu s as
a esul o di e ences be ween day and nigh
empe a u es also p o ides pe iods o we ness in he
ea ly hou s o he day. Fu he mo e, in e up ions
in pe iods o we ness by d y days may be o se by
he mois u e ha is added by some cul u al p ac ices
ha a e used by no heas e n B azilian melon
p oduce s, such as d ip i iga ion, plas ic mulch, and
ow co e s made om ag o ex iles.
Tempe a u e e ec s
The empe a u e signi ican ly in luenced he
se e i y o co ky d y o in melon ui s. In gene al,
he disease se e i y inc eased as empe a u e
inc eased om 15 o 25°C, whe eas lesions we e
smalle when he empe a u e was highe han 25ºC
(Figu e 2). The e we e no symp oms a 10ºC
(Figu e 2), con i ming obse a ions abou he
impo ance o e ige a ing ui s a ha empe a u e
o con ol co ky d y o . Howe e , e ige a ion is
no le hal o F. semi ec um because he disease begins
o de elop no mally again a e he ui s a e
emo ed om he cold (TERAO e al., 2006). In
addi ion o in luencing ui me abolism, he
empe a u es may also possibly a ec pa hogen
me abolism and he kine ics o enzymes ha a e
in ol ed in he in ec ion p ocess, which inc ease o
educe ac i i y depending on he p e ailing
condi ions, which, in u n, a ec disease
de elopmen (ADASKAVEG e al., 2002).
The logis ic model wi h an asymme ic powe
peak (Figu e 2) p o ided excellen i cu es o
desc ibe he p og ess and se e i y o co ky d y o
wi h espec o he empe a u e, wi h coe icien s o
de e mina ion (R2) o 99.9 and 98.6% o can aloupe
and honeydew melon, espec i ely. The chosen
model had ou pa ame e s (a, b, c, d), and he i s
wo pa ame e s a e o g ea biological in e es
because hey e lec he maximum es ima ed lesion
size (a) and he empe a u e a which he maximum
lesion size occu ed (b). The can aloupe displayed a
maximum es ima ed lesion size (421.6 mm2) ha
was signi ican ly (p ≤ 0.05) la ge han in he
honeydew (254.9 mm2), when he eg ession
pa ame e was compa ed by - es using he
con idence in e al. On he o he hand, he wo
melon a ie ies did no di e signi ican ly (p  0.05)
in iew o he op imum empe a u e o he disease,
o which he es ima ed alues we e 23.0 and 23.9°C
o he can aloupe and honeydew, espec i ely
(Figu e 2).
Figu e 2. E ec o empe a u e on co ky d y o se e i y (lesion
size) in ui s o can aloupe (c . To eon) and honeydew (c .
O ange Flesh) melon ypes inocula ed wi h Fusa ium semi ec um.
Values a e p esen ed as he means om wo independen
expe imen s. Tempe a u es and disease se e i y we e ela ed by
he nonlinea eg ession analysis using he logis ic powe peak
model, shown a he base o he g aphs.
The op imum empe a u es ha we e es ima ed
o he de elopmen o co ky d y o in his s udy
we e lowe han 30°C, which was p e iously
conside ed o be mo e a o able o disease
de elopmen in melon ui s (DIAS; TERAO,
2006). In banana ui s, highe c own o se e i y
caused by F. semi ec um was obse ed o occu a
empe a u es be ween 25 and 27°C, whe eas he
disease de elopmen was s ongly inhibi ed below
15°C, and no symp oms we e obse ed a 38°C
(PEREZ; VIDAL, 2002). Melon ui s unde go p e-
cooling be o e expo o lowe hei empe a u e o
10-15°C, and his ac ion could be conside ed o be
an e icien con ol o co ky d y o a pos ha es .
Howe e , he anspo ucks ha se e he
domes ic B azilian ma ke lack e ige a ion, as do
he supe ma ke s and/o ou doo ma ke s, which
a o he incidence o co ky d y o .
Inoculum concen a ion e ec s
The inoculum concen a ion o F. semi ec um
signi ican ly in luenced he se e i y o co ky d y o
in melon ui s, and lesion sizes inc eased wi h
Can aloupe
R² = 99.9%
a = 421.6
b = 23.0
c = 1.56
d = 10.7
Honeydew
R² = 98.6%
a = 254.9
b = 23.9
c = 2.05
d = 2.95
Epidemiology co ky d y o melon ui s 287
Ac a Scien ia um. Ag onomy Ma ingá, . 36, n. 3, p. 281-289, July-Sep ., 2014
inc easing inoculum concen a ions. La ge lesions
we e obse ed a a concen a ion o 106 conidia mL-1
in bo h a ie ies o melons, bu e en he lowes
concen a ion o inoculum (101 conidia mL-1)
(Figu e 3) was su icien o causing lesions. The
incidence o co ky d y o , e en wi h e y low
inoculum concen a ions, indica es he high
in ec ion po en ial o F. semi ec um spo es.
Figu e 3. E ec o Fusa ium semi ec um inoculum concen a ions
on co ky d y o se e i y (lesion size) in ui s o can aloupe (c .
To eon) and honeydew (c . O ange Flesh) melon ypes. Values
a e p esen ed as means om wo independen expe imen s.
Inoculum concen a ion and disease se e i y we e ela ed by he
single linea eg ession analysis.
The single linea model (y = a + bx) p o ided
excellen cu e i s o desc ibe he se e i y and
p og ess o co ky d y o wi h espec o he
inoculum concen a ions o F. semi ec um, wi h
coe icien s o de e mina ion (R2) a 99.9 and 98.6%
o can aloupe and honeydew melons, espec i ely
(Figu e 3). The can aloupe expe ienced an es ima ed
a e o lesion size p og ess (64.19 mm2 pe spo e
concen a ion uni ) ha was signi ican ly (p  0.05)
highe han he honeydew (34.32 mm2 pe spo e
concen a ion uni ), when he eg ession pa ame e
was compa ed by - es using he con idence
in e al, once again demons a ing he high
sensi i i y o he can aloupe o co ky d y o in
compa ison o he honeydew.
The inc eased se e i y o co ky d y o in
melons wi h inc easing concen a ions o
F. semi ec um inoculum highligh s he impo ance
o educing he inoculum o minimize he isk o
epidemics du ing he pos ha es pe iod, which
may be achie ed by measu es ha educe he le el
o inoculum in he ield, packing house and in
s o age (DIAS; TERAO, 2006). Conside ing ha
melon ui s ha a e le in he ield can be a
sou ce o F. semi ec um inoculum, he elimina ion
o in ec ed ui s du ing and a e each c op
season is a e y impo an measu e o p e en ing
he sp ead o disease.
The single linea model (y = a + bx) p o ided
excellen cu e i s o desc ibe he se e i y and
p og ess o co ky d y o wi h espec o he
inoculum concen a ions o F. semi ec um, wi h
coe icien s o de e mina ion (R2) a 99.9 and
98.6% o can aloupe and honeydew melons,
espec i ely (Figu e 3). The can aloupe
expe ienced an es ima ed a e o lesion size
p og ess (64.19 mm2 pe spo e concen a ion
uni ) ha was signi ican ly (p  0.05) highe han
he honeydew (34.32 mm2 pe spo e
concen a ion uni ), when he eg ession
pa ame e was compa ed by - es using he
con idence in e al, once again demons a ing he
high sensi i i y o he can aloupe o co ky d y o
in compa ison o he honeydew.
The inc eased se e i y o co ky d y o in
melons wi h inc easing concen a ions o
F. semi ec um inoculum highligh s he impo ance
o educing he inoculum o minimize he isk o
epidemics du ing he pos ha es pe iod, which
may be achie ed by measu es ha educe he le el
o inoculum in he ield, packing house and in
s o age (DIAS; TERAO, 2006). Conside ing ha
melon ui s ha a e le in he ield can be a
sou ce o F. semi ec um inoculum, he elimina ion
o in ec ed ui s du ing and a e each c op
season is a e y impo an measu e o p e en ing
he sp ead o disease.
Conclusion
Managemen p ac ices in ol ing he educ ion o
inju y o ui s and/o he accele a ion o wound
healing a e essen ial o educing he se e i y o co ky
d y o in he pos ha es ea men o melon ui s.
The con ol o en i onmen al a iables, such as
humidi y and empe a u e, as well as he educ ion
o inoculum sou ces can help o educe he se e i y
o co ky d y o in melons.
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