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Bacterial Rind Necrosis
Causal Agent: (bacterium - Erwinia spp.)
The
first symptoms are numerous brown, dry, hard, discolored areas in the rind.
These areas enlarge and may merge to form extensive necrotic areas [Picture].
The disease rarely extends into the flesh of infected melons in the field. The
disease occurs sporadically and is thought to be caused by bacteria that are
naturally present in fruit, but the reasons for symptom development are not
understood. Since usually there are no external symptoms, a small percentage
of diseased melons could make the crop unmarketable, as diseased melons cannot
be culled. There are no control measures.