What to Do About Bitter Melon Plant Death? Detailed Guide to Prevention and Control Methods
When growing bitter melon, the seedlings die soon after emergence, or during growth they suddenly and slowly turn yellow and wither. What causes this, and what should be done when it happens? In fact, there are many causes of this disease, possibly physiological reasons, insect damage, or infection by pathogens leading to plant death, and there may also be other environmental causes, so let's now look at what is going on and how to prevent and handle it.
I. Viral Disease
After bitter melon is fed on by piercing-sucking pests that carry viruses, such as thrips, aphids, and planthoppers, it is prone to viral disease. There are many types of viral diseases, and some viruses can infect the same virus across multiple vegetables, and viruses can also spread 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 insecticides plus antiviral agents such as lentinan or oligosaccharide·chain protein, plus brassinolide, generally applying once a week.
II. 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 nodules and abnormal growth. The root nodules are first white and then black, and finally lose their absorption capacity. Without nutrients and water being absorbed, the plant will die. Use Yinghui nematicide or Paecilomyces lilacinus, or abamectin can also be used with methyl bromide soil fumigation.
III. Soilborne Diseases
The main soilborne 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 bundles will cause seedling death. Phytophthora blight causes root rot, with the cortex and xylem separating, water-soaked, and ultimately seedling death. Root rot causes the affected roots to rot, leaving the vascular bundles, and the upper part dies. Spray carbendazim fungicide to control root rot; drench with 50% benomyl wettable powder 1500x solution to control fusarium wilt; use 72% Kelu wettable powder 500-800x solution to control phytophthora blight.
IV. Improper Management
Sometimes the soil is compacted or heavy and clayey, and if it is severe, the roots cannot breathe or grow, and may suffocate from lack of oxygen and rot, so the seedlings also die. Sometimes fertilization is insufficient, and nutritional deficiency leads to yellowing and plant death. If the fertilizer concentration is too high or it is too close to the roots, the seedlings will die. You can carry out intertillage, keep distance when fertilizing, use it dissolved in water, and reduce the concentration.
Bitter melon plant death is mainly caused by diseases, insects, and pests, while the rest are issues with fertilizer, water, and soil management. Preventing diseases, improving the growing environment, and adjusting nutrition can prevent plant death.