Latest Summary of Common Bitter Melon Diseases and Control Methods

Bitter melon is a vegetable that many people like and many people dislike; it tastes quite bitter and is widely cultivated in China. Bitter melon has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, nourishing the blood and lowering blood pressure, and it also helps treat conditions such as heatstroke and diarrhea. However, during the cultivation of bitter melon, many diseases occur. Today we will introduce the diseases of bitter melon and their control methods.

1. Damping-off

Damping-off is a fungal disease caused by pathogens, mainly occurring when bitter melon seedlings emerge. In the early stage of the disease, the seedlings develop water-soaked spots, which then turn brown, and the seedlings collapse before the leaves have wilted. The cause of this disease is mainly soil temperature that is too low and humidity that is too high; the incidence rate is generally highest at night or during cloudy and rainy weather. Before sowing, the soil can be disinfected with agents such as quintozene, and then when the seedlings emerge, sprays such as propamocarb hydrochloride can be used for control. The main thing is still to control the temperature and humidity in the field.

2. Powdery mildew

Powdery mildew, like damping-off, is a fungal disease caused by pathogens. It can occur at any stage of bitter melon growth, and damage to the leaves is relatively severe. When infected in the early stage, the leaves develop some small white spots, and the spots gradually spread and connect to form whole patches. In more severe cases, the entire leaf turns white, and in the later stage the leaves turn from white to gray, causing them to wither. This is also mainly due to improper control of humidity and temperature in the field. Agents such as sulfur suspension can be sprayed for prevention and control, about once a week for about three weeks. Prevention should be the main focus, and the leaf surface should be sprayed evenly.

3. Anthracnose

Anthracnose is spread by residual pathogens in the soil and diseased plant debris through rain, insects and other agents. The incidence rate is highest in environments above 25°C with humidity greater than 90%, and under conditions of poor drainage and excessive density, the incidence of anthracnose increases. Anthracnose harms the entire plant, and the lesions form irregular circles with a yellow ring around the outer edge. Diseased plants and diseased plant debris in the garden should be removed and cleared in time, and fertilizer and water management should be strengthened. Pay attention to planting density and drainage, and thiophanate-methyl wettable powder and similar agents can be sprayed for prevention and control, once a week for three weeks.

4. Fusarium wilt

Fusarium wilt is one of the most harmful diseases of all cucurbit crops. It can invade at any stage of the growth period, but the incidence rate is highest during flowering and fruiting. In affected plants, it first occurs on some of the leaves of the plant; the leaves turn yellow, dry and shrivel, resembling a lack of water. However, the leaves recover in the morning and evening, and then the affected leaves increase more and more, causing the whole plant to die. To control Fusarium wilt, it is best not to practice continuous cropping. Clean up diseased plant debris in time and disinfect the soil. Use agents such as quintozene for control, once a week for three weeks.

The above four are the common diseases of bitter melon. In fact, the main causes of disease are improper control of temperature and humidity in the garden or planting density and other reasons. Diseased plant debris in the garden should be cleaned up in time, the garden should be disinfected, and garden hygiene should be paid attention to. This can also reduce the incidence of these diseases.