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First Report of Fruit Rot of Ridge Gourd (Luffa acutangula) Caused by Sclerotium rolfsii

    Affiliations
    Authors and Affiliations
    • Chandrasekar S. Kousik
    • Jennifer Ikerd , U.S. Vegetable Laboratory, USDA, ARS, 2700 Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC 29414
    • Mihir Mandal , ORISE participant sponsored by the U.S. Vegetable Laboratory, USDA, ARS, 2700 Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC 29414

      Published Online:https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-BR-15-0048

      Ridge gourd is a specialty cucurbit vegetable cultivated in the United States on a small scale for select markets. We report the infection of ridge gourd fruit by Sclerotium rolfsii (teleomorph: Athelia rolfsii). This appears to be the first report of Sclerotium rot of ridge gourd. In fields with history of S. rolfsii, the gourds should be grown on trellis to prevent fruit contact with wet soil. Several fungicides are available to manage S. rolfsii and may have to be applied if and when needed.

      Accepted for publication 12 January 2016. Published 14 January 2016.