Status of soil-borne phytosanitary problems encountered in melon (Cucumis melo) in the main producing regions of France

French melon growers have found themselves confronted with melon root decay. Accordingly, Ctifl, in close collaboration with the regional research stations and INRA, set up a study designed to gain greater knowledge of the various phytosanitary problems and identify the probable cause(s). The principle of the study was to monitor pathogen distribution changes in melon. Three plots were monitored and a number of samples from other plots were also studied (19 samples in 2003, 22 in 2004, 6 in 2005, 2 in 2006 and 25 in 2007). The symptoms that developed during the years of the study were identified based on this body of data. The results show the prevalence of problems related to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis race 1-2 yellowing, often found together with other pathogenic soil fungi, which constitute aggravating factors. The isolates of F. oxysporum f. sp. melonis collected from samples appear to be more aggressive than the reference strains used in the breeding tests for resistance.Cucurbitaceae 2008. IX EUCARPIA Meeting. Avignon (France), May 21-24th, 200