FRUIT BLOTCH: IMPORTANT BACTERIAL DISEASE OF MELON IN BRAZIL

Abstract

The Northeastern Region is the main melon producer of Brazil and the states of Rio Grandedo Norte and Ceará are responsible for 82 % of this production. Bacterial fruit blotch causedby Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli is one of the major diseases of melon reaching up to 100 %losses in raining seasons. Disease symptoms are more easily observed in fruits and controlmeasures are still not well stablished in Brazil. This review it is not comprehensive but coversthe principal aspects related to this disease involving importance, taxonomy, occurrence anddistribution, symptomatology, etiology, host range, survival, dissemination, penetration,epidemiology and management, published in Brazil and worldwide.