PREVALENCE OF WATERMELON (Citrullus vulgaris) DISEASES IN PATUAKHALI DISTRICT

Abstract

The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of watermelon diseases in nine selected locations of Patuakhali district. Three experiments were conducted on watermelon diseases and their prevalence and effect of temperature, relative humidity and rainfall on the diseases. Five different diseases viz. Alternaria leaf spot, Cercospora leaf spot, Anthracnose, Mosaic diseases and Rhizopus soft rot were recorded in the survey. Significant pathogens Alternaria alternata, Cercospora citrullina, Colletotrichum lagenarium, Leaf mosaic virus and Rhizopus stolonifer were isolated and identified. Results revealed that the highest disease incidence (20.84%) and severity (18.75%) of alternaria leaf spot disease and the lowest disease incidence (6.42%) and severity (4.50%) of rhizopus soft rot was found in selected locations of Patuakhali district. The highest disease incidence (19.14%) and disease severity (16.33%) was found in Galachipa upazilla of Patuakhali district where the lowest disease incidence (16.27%) and severity (14.73%) was found in Patuakhali Sadar Upazilla. Weather component (temperature, relative humidity and rainfall) had positive correlation with disease incidence and severity of watermelon. It was observed that with increasing in temperature, relative humidity and rainfall the disease incidence and severity were also increased.