Detailed Guide to Identifying and Controlling Common Bitter Melon Diseases

Bitter melon is a vegetable that many people love and many people hate; it tastes quite bitter and is widely grown 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 can occur. Today I will introduce the diseases of bitter melon and their control methods.

1. Damping-off

Damping-off is a fungal disease caused by pathogens, and it mainly occurs when bitter melon seedlings emerge from the soil. In the early stage of the disease, the seedlings develop water-soaked spots, which then turn brown, and the plants topple over before the leaves have even 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, agents such as propamocarb hydrochloride can be sprayed for control. The main thing is still to control the temperature and humidity in the field well.

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 serious. When infection occurs in the early stage, some small white spots appear on the leaves, and the spots gradually spread and connect to form whole patches. In more serious cases, the entire leaf turns white, and later the leaf turns from white to gray, causing wilting. This is also mainly due to improper control of humidity and temperature in the field. Agents such as sulfur suspension concentrate can be sprayed for prevention and control, about once a week for about three weeks. Prevention should be the main approach, 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 means. The incidence rate is highest in environments above 25 degrees with humidity greater than 90%, and under conditions of poor drainage and excessive density, the incidence of anthracnose increases. Anthracnose harms the entire crop 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 away promptly, 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 appears on some of the leaves of the plant; the leaves turn yellow, dry up, and shrivel, appearing to be short 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 promptly 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 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 promptly, the garden should be disinfected, and garden hygiene should be paid attention to. This can also reduce the incidence of these diseases.