What to Do About Bitter Melon Plant Death? The Latest Control Methods Are Here

When bitter melon is planted and the seedlings die soon after emerging, or the plants suddenly and slowly turn yellow and wither during growth, what is the cause, and what should be done when this happens? In fact, there are many causes of this disease. It could be physiological reasons, or pest damage, or infection by pathogens leading to plant death, and there may also be other environmental causes. So now let's look at what is going on and how to prevent and handle it.

1. Viral disease

Bitter melon is prone to viral disease after being fed on by piercing-sucking pests that carry viruses, such as thrips, aphids and planthoppers. There are many kinds of viral diseases, and some viruses can infect the same virus in multiple vegetables, and viruses can also be transmitted through the friction of branches and leaves during farming operations. After infection with viral disease, bitter melon plants may wither and die. Therefore, to prevent these insects, mainly use acetamiprid-type pesticides plus antiviral agents such as lentinan or oligosaccharide·chain protein, plus brassinolide, generally applying once a week.

2. Nematode disease

Nematodes harm many vegetables, mainly damaging the bitter melon root system. They have a stylet that can pierce the bitter melon roots and then let their saliva enter the root system, causing root galls and abnormal growth. The root galls are first white and then black, and finally lose their ability to absorb. Without nutrients and water being absorbed, the plant will die. Use Yinghui nematicide or Paecilomyces lilacinus, or avermectin with methyl bromide soil disinfection.

3. Soil-borne diseases

The main soil-borne diseases harm bitter melon and cause plant death. Common ones include root rot, fusarium wilt and phytophthora blight. Fusarium wilt occurs throughout the whole period, with the greatest damage during the fruiting stage. Seedlings are prone to death. Stem rot and damage to the vascular bundle will cause seedling death. Phytophthora blight causes root rot, separation of the skin and xylem, and water-soaked appearance, ultimately causing seedling death. Root rot causes the affected roots to rot, leaving the vascular bundle, and the upper part withers and dies. Spray carbendazim fungicide to control root rot; drench with 50% benomyl wettable powder 1500-fold solution to control fusarium wilt; use 72% Kelu wettable powder 500-800-fold solution to control phytophthora blight.

4. Improper management

Sometimes the soil is compacted or heavy and clayey, and if it is relatively severe, the roots cannot breathe and grow, and may suffocate from lack of oxygen and rot, so the seedlings will also die. Sometimes insufficient fertilization and poor nutrition lead to yellowing and plant death. If the fertilizer concentration is too high and it is too close to the roots, the seedlings will die. You can carry out intertillage, keep a distance when fertilizing, apply dissolved in water, and reduce the concentration.

The main causes of bitter melon plant death are diseases, pests and insect damage, and the rest are some problems with fertilizer, water and soil management. Preventing diseases, improving the growing environment and adjusting nutrition can prevent plant death.