Fusarium spp. is a group of soil-borne fungi with many different species. In cucurbits, this genus cause major diseases out of which vascular wilt disease and fruit rot are of highly significance on the basis of the economic losses it causes annually to the cucurbit crops. Vascular wilt of cucurbits is caused by Fusarium oxysporum which has a host specific formae speciales (f. sp.) such as F. oxysporum f. sp. melonis which cause vascular wilt of melon (muskmelon and cantaloupe). These formae speciales also show cross-infectivity and can infect other non-host species in the family cucurbitaceae. Fruit/crown/foot rot of cucurbits is due to F. solani which is a post-harvest disease and infects mostly pumpkin and squash. The formae specials in this disease is common to the family cucurbitaceae i.e. Fusarium solani f. sp. cucurbitae. Although less specific to the cucurbits, other species of Fusarium such as F. proliferatum, F. equiseti, F. pallidoroseum F. semitectum, F. verticillioides etc. can also be found associated with the cucurbit diseases. F. oxysporum and F. solani are the primary culprits, whereas several other Fusarium species contribute to diseases in cucurbits, hampering its yield as well as quality.
Fusarium, Cucurbit Diseases, soil-borne, fungi, different species
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