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Combining melon varieties with chemical fungicides for integrated powdery mildew control in Tunisia

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Abstract

Powdery mildew is one of the most important diseases that causes significant economic losses in melon. Chemical fungicides and tolerant melon varieties, which may reduce pathogen severity and encourage positive plant responses, are viable techniques for controlling this disease. The study objectives were to investigate the effectiveness of contact fungicides, systemic fungicides and a combination of both in four commercial fields at various sampling times [30, 90 and 120 days after the first fungicide application (DAFA)]. Both fungicide mixture azoxystrobin + chlorothalonil and fungicide thiophanate-methyl reduced the disease index of powdery mildew on melon varieties compared to the untreated control (disease index 1.70–2.13 and 0.83–1.75, respectively at 120 DAFA), reduced the disease severity (24.79–31.5% and 19.06–21.88%, respectively at 120 DAFA) and the percentage of leaf area covered by powdery mildew (27–43.75% and 8.25–39%, respectively at 120 DAFA). Furthermore, melon plants treated with azoxystrobin + chlorothalonil showed a larger yield increase (63.31–71.40%), polar (15.43–17.59 cm) and equatorial (24.71–29.61 cm) diameter, yield (2.23–3.18 fruits number/plant; 27.67–52.22 t/ha) and mean weight (2411.25–3289.5 g). Azoxystrobin + chlorothalonil and thiophanate-methyl not only reduced the disease index and disease severity index, but also promoted a yield increase of all melon varieties. More attention should be given to the effectiveness of chemical fungicide control in view of expected climate changes. But fungicides continuous application following a fixed schedule is unsustainable and could lead to high resistance development in PM fungi.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the review editor and the anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments and suggestions to improve the clarity of the research paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Regional Centre of Agricultural Research of Sidi Bouzid, CRRA, Gafsa Road Km 6, B.P. 357, 9100, Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia

    Abdelhak Rhouma

  2. Laboratory of Genetics, Biotechnology and Valorization of Bio-resources, Department of Agronomic Sciences, University of Biskra, Biskra, Algeria

    Mohamed Seghir Mehaoua

  3. Higher Agronomic Institute of Chott Mariem Sousse, University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia

    Imen Mougou

  4. Faculty of Science of Gabes, University of Gabes, Gabes, Tunisia

    Hamza Rhouma

  5. Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Gokuleshwor College, Tribhuvan University, Baitadi, Nepal

    Kabita Kumari Shah

  6. Laboratory of Promotion of Innovation of Agriculture in Arid Regions, Department of Agronomic Sciences, University of Biskra, Biskra, Algeria

    Hanane Bedjaoui

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  1. Abdelhak Rhouma
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Rhouma, A., Mehaoua, M.S., Mougou, I. et al. Combining melon varieties with chemical fungicides for integrated powdery mildew control in Tunisia. Eur J Plant Pathol 165, 189–201 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-022-02599-3

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