Evaluating yield performance in commercial cucumber varieties under Anthracnose pressure. Simranjot Kaur, Prerna Sabharwal, Sudeep Adhikari, Shallu Thakur, Yuqing Fu, and Geoffrey Meru.
CALS Dean graduate student scholarship (2024-2025) for academic excellence, Simranjot Kaur.
Plant Disease Management Reports (PDMRs)
Kaur, N., Foster, M.J., Donahoo, W.M., and Dutta, B. 2025. Evaluation of conventional fungicides for the management of anthracnose in watermelon in Georgia, 2024 Plant Health Progress (First Look)
Kaur, N., Foster, M.J., Donahoo, W.M., and Dutta, B. 2025. Evaluation of organic fungicides for the management of anthracnose in watermelon in Georgia, 2024. Plant Health Progress (First Look)
Kaur, N., Foster, M.J., Donahoo, W.M., and Dutta, B. 2025. Evaluation of conventional fungicides for the management of anthracnose in cucumber in Georgia, 2024. Plant Health Progress (First Look)
Kaur, N., Foster., M.J., Donahoo, W.M., and Dutta, B. 2025. Evaluation of organic fungicides for the management of anthracnose in cucumber in Georgia, 2024. Plant Health Progress (First Look)
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-PDMR
Kumari, M., Dutta, B., Kaur, N., and McAvoy, T. 2025. Performance Metrics of Cucumber Cultivars: Yield, Marketability, and Disease Susceptibility, Georgia, 2024. Plant Health Progress. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-01-25-0018-PDMR
Kumari M., Dutta, B., Kaur N., & 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 .
Kumari M., Dutta, B., Kaur N., & McAvoy, T. 2025. Performance Metrics of Cucumber Cultivars: Yield, Marketability, and Disease Susceptibility, Georgia, 2024. Plant Health Progress. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-01-25-0018-PDMR.
Emma I. Nieland, Calyn M. Adams, David B. Langston and Douglas S. Higgins, Evaluation of watermelon cultivars for susceptibility to anthracnose, Painter, VA, 2024 https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-01-25-0014-PDMR
Emma I. Nieland, Calyn M. Adams, David B. Langston and Douglas S. Higgins, Evaluation of fungicides for control of anthracnose in watermelon, Painter, VA, 2024 https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-01-25-0012-PDMR
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.
Kaur, S. and Meru, G. April 2025. Leveraging Genomic Tools to Improve Anthracnose Resistance in Watermelon and Cucumber. Horticultural Science Department Seminar, Gainesville, Florida.
Kaur, S. and Meru, G., July 2025. Impact of Anthracnose on Cucumber Yield. Everglades Research and Education Center, Florida.
Kaur, S. , Sabharwal. P. , Adhikari, S. , Thakur, S. , Fu, Y. and Meru, G. , June 2025. Evaluating Yield Performance in Commercial Cucumber Varieties Under Anthracnose Pressure. Florida Society for Horticultural Sciences, Florida
Higgins, D. 2025. Lower Eastern Shore Research and Education Center, ” Emerging Research for Management of Fusarium Wilt, Phytophthora Fruit Rot, and Anthracnose in Watermelon” Salisbary, MD
Betts, A. 2025. 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, July, 2024. Diversity of Fungal Plant Pathogens on North Carolina Cucumbers. Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium. NC State, Raleigh, NC.
Thompson, C. 2024. Attacking Anthracnose: UGA’s Dutta Highlights Research in Watermelon Disease. Vegetable and Specialty Crop News.
Dutta,B. December, 2024 SCRI-SAM update at SE fruit & Vegetable Expo, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Dutta, B. December, 2024. Lessons learned: Managing cucurbit diseases in Georgia, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Kaur, S. and Meru, G. , September 2024. Utilizing Genome Wide Association Studies to Resistance Against Anthracnose in Watermelon and Cucumber. Inter-REC Flash talk in Golf Coast Research and Education Center, Florida.
Higgins, D.S. and Langston, D.L. April, 2024. Anthracnose, Downy Mildew, and Gummy Stem Blight Disease Management for Virginia Watermelons. Capron Area Watermelon Growers, Capron, VA.
Research Papers
Kang, S. E. et al. Evidence for the agricultural origin of resistance to multiple antimicrobials in Aspergillus fumigatus, a fungal pathogen of humans. G312, jkab427 (2022).
Hoffmeister, M. et al. Method for QoI sensitivity monitoring in Colletotrichum lentis by a species-specific pyrosequencing assay. Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology44, 128–135 (2022).
Hu, M. & Chen, S. Non-Target Site Mechanisms of Fungicide Resistance in Crop Pathogens: A Review. Microorganisms9, 502 (2021).
Correa, E., Crosby, K. & Malla, S. Optimizing a Seedling Screening Method for Anthracnose Resistance in Watermelon. Plant Health Progress22, 536–543 (2021).
Miles, T. D. et al. Allele-Specific Detection Methods for QoI Fungicide-Resistant Erysiphe necator in Vineyards. Plant Disease105, 175–182 (2021).
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 Disease105, 660–666 (2021).
Wei, L. et al. Mutations and Overexpression of CYP51 Associated with DMI-Resistance in Colletotrichum gloeosporioides from Chili. Plant Disease104, 668–676 (2020).
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 Biotechnol104, 1891–1904 (2020).
Gan, P. et al. Genome Sequence Resources for Four Phytopathogenic Fungi from the Colletotrichum orbiculare Species Complex. MPMI32, 1088–1090 (2019).
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 Journal17, 2246–2258 (2019).
Forcelini, B. B. & Peres, N. A. Widespread Resistance to QoI Fungicides of Colletotrichum acutatum from Strawberry Nurseries and Production Fields. Plant Health Progress19, 338–341 (2018).
Keinath, A. P. Minimizing yield and quality losses in watermelon with multi-site and strobilurin fungicides effective against foliar and fruit anthracnose. Crop Protection106, 72–78 (2018).
Villa-Rivera, M. G. et al. The Role of Virulence Factors in the Pathogenicity of Colletotrichum sp. CPPS18, (2017).
Jayawardena, R. Notes on currently accepted species of Colletotrichum. Mycosphere7, 1192–1260 (2016).
Ishii, H., Zhen, F., Hu, M., Li, X. & Schnabel, G. Efficacy of SDHI fungicides, including benzovindiflupyr, against Colletotrichum species. Pest Management Science72, 1844–1853 (2016).
Keinath, A. P. Identification of Races of Colletotrichum orbiculare on Muskmelon in South Carolina. Plant Health Progress 16, 88–89 (2015).
Damm, U. et al. The Colletotrichum orbiculare species complex: Important pathogens of field crops and weeds. Fungal Diversity61, 29–59 (2013).
Shim, S.-A. et al. Resistance Degree of Cucurbits Cultivars to Colletotrichum orbiculare. Korean Journal of Horticultural Science and Technology31, 371–379 (2013).
Kubo, Y. & Takano, Y. Dynamics of infection-related morphogenesis and pathogenesis in Colletotrichum orbiculare. J Gen Plant Pathol79, 233–242 (2013).
Gan, P. et al. Comparative genomic and transcriptomic analyses reveal the hemibiotrophic stage shift of Colletotrichum fungi. New Phytologist197, 1236–1249 (2013).
Liu, F., Cai, L., Crous, P. W. & Damm, U. Circumscription of the anthracnose pathogens Colletotrichum lindemuthianum and C. nigrum. Mycologia105, 844–860 (2013).
Damm, U. et al. The Colletotrichum boninense species complex. Studies in Mycology73, 1–36 (2012).
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 Disease94, 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 Disease94, 787–787 (2010).
Alves, M. D. C. & Pozza, E. A. Scanning electron microscopy applied to seed‐borne fungi examination. Microscopy Res & Technique72, 482–488 (2009).
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 Management54, 347–354 (2008).
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).
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 Biology44, 1324–1335 (2007).
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).
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).
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 Disease81, 739–742 (1997).
Wehner, T. C. & St. Amand, P. C. Anthracnose Resistance of the Cucumber Germplasm Collection in North Carolina Field Tests. Crop Science35, 228–236 (1995).
Boyhan, G. E., Norton, J. D., Abrahams, B. R. & Wen, H. H. A New Source of Resistance to Anthracnose (Race 2) in Watermelon. HortSci29, 111–112 (1994).
Wasilwa, L. A. Reexamination of Races of the Cucurbit Anthracnose Pathogen Colletotrichum orbiculare. Phytopathology83, 1190 (1993).
Linde, D. C., Bridges, W. C. & Rhodes, B. B. Inheritance of resistance in cucumber to race 2 of Colletotrichum lagenarium. Theoret. Appl. Genetics79, 13–16 (1990).
