Gummy Stem Blight Spotted in Watermelon Fields in Fenglin Township; Hualien County Government Urges Growers to Do a Good Job of Prevention and Control

After gummy stem blight damage was reported in some watermelon fields in Fenglin Township, Hualien County, the Hualien County Department of Agriculture, together with the Animal and Plant Disease Control Center, the Hualien District Agricultural Research and Extension Station of the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, and the Fenglin Township Office, went on the 17th to 4 watermelon fields where gummy stem blight had occurred for an on-site inspection. At the scene, only scattered plants showed symptoms of gummy stem blight on their leaves and stems, and the disease has now been well controlled.

Wu Kun-ju, Director of the Department of Agriculture, said that watermelon gummy stem blight is a disease caused by an ascomycete fungus. The early planting period of the first crop of watermelons in Hualien County coincides with the spring rain season. Under humid weather and insufficient sunlight, gummy stem blight is more likely to occur where melon seedlings are planted too densely. On the leaves, dark brown concentric circular or irregular lesions can be seen, while the stems show early-stage lesions in the form of long strip-like cracks. The disease can spread through seeds, wind and rain, and mechanical wounds on plants. Growers need to carry out good field management and should patrol their fields more often and take early preventive measures before the plum rain season arrives.

The Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine of the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, also explained that watermelon gummy stem blight is an endemic disease in Hualien watermelon cultivation. According to inspections by the Hualien District Agricultural Research and Extension Station and the disease control center, only a small number of fields have shown scattered symptoms so far this year, and guidance will continue to be provided to growers to strengthen prevention and control and to monitor the disease situation. The Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine will also send disease text message alerts through the Field Side Helper system to expand early warning. If growers use exempt-registration materials such as neutralized phosphorous acid for prevention and control, they can apply to the local farmers' association for a subsidy (5,000 yuan/hectare).

The Department of Agriculture called on growers to remove diseased plants when they find the above symptoms during field patrols so as to reduce sources of pathogen infection. Applying chemical agents is currently the main method for treating gummy stem blight. Growers are advised to follow the recommended agents for prevention and control. Organic growers may apply plant protection materials such as 1,000-fold diluted phosphorous acid for prevention to reduce the disease. If technical guidance on pesticide application is needed, they may contact the Hualien District Agricultural Research and Extension Station for assistance.