Managing Anthracnose of Watermelon Using Host Resistant Pollenizer Varieties.

As part of a multi-state collaboration with Purdue University, we will be conducting an applied research project with respect to commercial watermelon production. We propose to use four pollenizer varieties known to vary in anthracnose susceptibility interplanted with a standard seedless watermelon hybrid. We will measure anthracnose severity and marketable yield to determine the effect of anthracnose susceptibility in seedless watermelon production.