Vine Decline

Vine decline of melons, caused by the root-infecting ascomyceteMonosporascus cannonballus,is characterized by the sudden and generally uniformcanopy collapseof entire fields 1 to 2 weeks before harvest. The most susceptible hosts are cantaloupe and watermelon and, to a lesser extent, honeydew melons. The disease is particularly severe in the hot and semi-arid production regions of the world.In California, the disease is most prevalent in the Imperial Valley, Coachella Valley and the Palo Verde V