A website from UGA Cooperative Extension

Sustainable Cucurbit Anthracnose Research

Publications & Presentations

Research papers

  • Monroe, J. S., Santini, J. B. & Latin, R. A Model Defining the Relationship Between Temperature and Leaf Wetness Duration, and Infection of Watermelon by Colletotrichum orbiculare. Plant Disease 81, 739–742 (1997).
  • Boyhan, G. E., Norton, J. D., Abrahams, B. R. & Wen, H. H. A New Source of Resistance to Anthracnose (Race 2) in Watermelon. HortSci 29, 111–112 (1994).
  • Lee, J., Elliott, M. R., Kim, M., Yamada, T. & Jung, G. A Rapid Molecular Detection System for SdhB and SdhC Point Mutations Conferring Differential Succinate Dehydrogenase Inhibitor Resistance in Clarireedia Populations. Plant Disease 105, 660–666 (2021).
  • Miles, T. D. et al. Allele-Specific Detection Methods for QoI Fungicide-Resistant Erysiphe necator in Vineyards. Plant Disease 105, 175–182 (2021).
  • Wehner, T. C. & St. Amand, P. C. Anthracnose Resistance of the Cucumber Germplasm Collection in North Carolina Field Tests. Crop Science 35, 228–236 (1995).
  • Nakaune, R. & Nakano, M. Benomyl resistance of Colletotrichum acutatum is caused by enhanced expression of β-tubulin 1 gene regulated by putative leucine zipper protein CaBEN1. Fungal Genetics and Biology 44, 1324–1335 (2007).
  • Liu, F., Cai, L., Crous, P. W. & Damm, U. Circumscription of the anthracnose pathogens Colletotrichum lindemuthianum and C. nigrum. Mycologia 105, 844–860 (2013).
  • Da Silva, L. L., Moreno, H. L. A., Correia, H. L. N., Santana, M. F. & De Queiroz, M. V. Colletotrichum: species complexes, lifestyle, and peculiarities of some sources of genetic variability. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 104, 1891–1904 (2020).
  • Gan, P. et al. Comparative genomic and transcriptomic analyses reveal the hemibiotrophic stage shift of Colletotrichum fungi. New Phytologist 197, 1236–1249 (2013).
  • Liu, B., Wasilwa, L. A., Morelock, T. E., O’Neill, N. R. & Correll, J. C. Comparison of Colletotrichum orbiculare and Several Allied Colletotrichum spp. for mtDNA RFLPs, Intron RFLP and Sequence Variation, Vegetative Compatibility, and Host Specificity. Phytopathology® 97, 1305–1314 (2007).
  • Kubo, Y. & Takano, Y. Dynamics of infection-related morphogenesis and pathogenesis in Colletotrichum orbiculare. J Gen Plant Pathol 79, 233–242 (2013).
  • Ishii, H., Zhen, F., Hu, M., Li, X. & Schnabel, G. Efficacy of SDHI fungicides, including benzovindiflupyr, against Colletotrichum species. Pest Management Science 72, 1844–1853 (2016).
  • Kang, S. E. et al. Evidence for the agricultural origin of resistance to multiple antimicrobials in Aspergillus fumigatus, a fungal pathogen of humans. G3 12, jkab427 (2022).
  • Tsay, J.-G., Chen, R.-S., Wang, W.-L. & Weng, B.-C. First Report of Anthracnose on Cucurbitaceous Crops Caused by Glomerella magna in Taiwan. Plant Disease 94, 787–787 (2010).
  • Tsay, J.-G., Chen, R.-S., Wang, W.-L. & Weng, B.-C. First Report of Anthracnose on Cucurbitaceous Crops Caused by Glomerella magna in Taiwan. Plant Disease 94, 787–787 (2010).
  • Wu, S. et al. Genome of ‘Charleston Gray’, the principal American watermelon cultivar, and genetic characterization of 1,365 accessions in the U.S. National Plant Germplasm System watermelon collection. Plant Biotechnology Journal 17, 2246–2258 (2019).
  • Gan, P. et al. Genome Sequence Resources for Four Phytopathogenic Fungi from the Colletotrichum orbiculare Species Complex. MPMI 32, 1088–1090 (2019).
  • Keinath, A. P. Identification of Races of Colletotrichum orbiculare on Muskmelon in South Carolina. Plant Health Progress 16, 88–89 (2015).
  • Linde, D. C., Bridges, W. C. & Rhodes, B. B. Inheritance of resistance in cucumber to race 2 of Colletotrichum lagenarium. Theoret. Appl. Genetics 79, 13–16 (1990).
  • Coelho, M. V. S., Palma, F. R. & Café-Filho, A. C. Management of strawberry anthracnose by choice of irrigation system, mulching material and host resistance. International Journal of Pest Management 54, 347–354 (2008).
  • Hoffmeister, M. et al. Method for QoI sensitivity monitoring in Colletotrichum lentis by a species-specific pyrosequencing assay. Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology 44, 128–135 (2022).
  • Keinath, A. P. Minimizing yield and quality losses in watermelon with multi-site and strobilurin fungicides effective against foliar and fruit anthracnose. Crop Protection 106, 72–78 (2018).
  • Wei, L. et al. Mutations and Overexpression of CYP51 Associated with DMI-Resistance in Colletotrichum gloeosporioides from Chili. Plant Disease 104, 668–676 (2020).
  • Hu, M. & Chen, S. Non-Target Site Mechanisms of Fungicide Resistance in Crop Pathogens: A Review. Microorganisms 9, 502 (2021).
  • Jayawardena, R. Notes on currently accepted species of Colletotrichum. Mycosphere 7, 1192–1260 (2016).
  • Correa, E., Crosby, K. & Malla, S. Optimizing a Seedling Screening Method for Anthracnose Resistance in Watermelon. Plant Health Progress 22, 536–543 (2021).
  • McDonald, B. A. & Linde, C. P ATHOGEN P OPULATION G ENETICS , E VOLUTIONARY P OTENTIAL, AND D URABLE R ESISTANCE. Annu. Rev. Phytopathol. 40, 349–379 (2002).
  • Wasilwa, L. A. Reexamination of Races of the Cucurbit Anthracnose Pathogen Colletotrichum orbiculare. Phytopathology 83, 1190 (1993).
  • Shim, S.-A. et al. Resistance Degree of Cucurbits Cultivars to Colletotrichum orbiculare. Korean Journal of Horticultural Science and Technology 31, 371–379 (2013).
  • Walcott, R. R., Gitaitis, R. D. & Castro, A. C. Role of Blossoms in Watermelon Seed Infestation by Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli. Phytopathology® 93, 528–534 (2003).
  • Alves, M. D. C. & Pozza, E. A. Scanning electron microscopy applied to seed‐borne fungi examination. Microscopy Res & Technique 72, 482–488 (2009).
  • Damm, U. et al. The Colletotrichum boninense species complex. Studies in Mycology 73, 1–36 (2012).
  • Damm, U. et al. The Colletotrichum orbiculare species complex: Important pathogens of field crops and weeds. Fungal Diversity 61, 29–59 (2013).
  • Villa-Rivera, M. G. et al. The Role of Virulence Factors in the Pathogenicity of Colletotrichum sp. CPPS 18, (2017).
  • Forcelini, B. B. & Peres, N. A. Widespread Resistance to QoI Fungicides of Colletotrichum acutatum from Strawberry Nurseries and Production Fields. Plant Health Progress 19, 338–341 (2018).

Conference Paper and Presentations

  • Keinath, A. 2025. Field Scouting and Disease Identification on Watermelon, Cantaloupe, Cucumber, and Squash. Clemson Extension Preplant Cucurbit Meeting, Edisto REC, Blackville, SC. Feb. 7, 2025.
  • Higgins, D.S. and Langston, D.L. 2024. Anthracnose, Downy Mildew, and Gummy Stem Blight Disease Management for Virginia Watermelons. Capron Area Watermelon Growers, Capron, VA, April, 17. 
  • Lower Eastern Shore Research and Education Center, ” Emerging Research for Management of Fusarium Wilt, Phytophthora Fruit Rot, and Anthracnose in Watermelon” Salisbary, MD 
  • Carvel Research and Education Center Field Day “Emerging Research for Management of Fusarium Wilt, Phytophthora Fruit Rot, and Anthracnose in Watermelon” Georgetown, DE 
  • Alshwaiki, G., Hagerty, A., Cochran S., Quesada-Ocampo L. M. Diversity of Fungal Plant Pathogens on North Carolina Cucumbers. Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium. NC State, Raleigh, NC, July 2024.
  • Thompson, C. 2024. Attacking Anthracnose: UGA’s Dutta Highlights Research in Watermelon Disease. Vegetable and Specialty Crop News.
  • SCRI-SAM update at SE fruit & Vegetable Expo, 3rd December, 2024, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
  • Lessons learned: Managing cucurbit diseases in Georgia, December 4th, 2024, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
  • Keinath, A. P. 2024. Updates on Phytophthora Blight and Anthracnose Fruit Rot. 2024 Upstate Vegetable Meeting, Greenville, SC (virtual). April 2, 2024

PDMRs

  • Kumari, M., Dutta, B., Kaur, N., and McAvoy, T. 2025. Evaluation of Anthracnose Disease Resistance, Yield Performance, and Fruit Size Distribution of Seedless Watermelon Cultivars in Georgia, 2024. Plant Health
  • Progress. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-01-25-0020-PDMRKumari, M., Dutta, B., Kaur, N., and McAvoy, T. 2025. Performance Metrics of Cucumber Cultivars: Yield, Marketability, and Disease Susceptibility, Georgia, 2024. Plant Heal
  • Progress. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-01-25-0018-PDMRKumari, M., Dutta, B., Kaur, N., and McAvoy, T. 2025. Optimizing Overhead Irrigation Schedules for Effective Anthracnose Management in Watermelon, Georgia, 2024. Plant Health
  • Progress. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-01-25-0019-PDMR

Press Release Articles (Newsletters)