Facing Fear.

The article offers information on the fungus, Didymella bryoniae which causes gummy stem blight, the most feared disease of watermelon. Blight disease happens in hot, wet weather with temperatures in the mid-80s and above with relative humidity greater than 95% as the best conditions of its outbreak. The spread of this disease can be airborne or seedborne made via infected transplants and rain splash. The author recommends the rotation of products and the use of a wide spectrum of fungicides to combat the disease.