Bacterial Fruit Blotch Watermelon

Bacterial fruit blotch is a seed-borne bacterial disease that affects cucurbits (watermelon, cantaloupe, cucumber, and pumpkin) and some solanceous plants (melongene and sweet peppers). It was discovered in Mayaro, Trinidad in 2012 on watermelons. It is known to occur in most watermelon producing countries.

Bacterial fruit blotch is devastating as losses reported are 50-80%. Symptoms may not be visible until two weeks prior to harvest and affected fruits are unmarketable. One infected plant is too much as the disease spreads rapidly!