Foliar application of acibenzolar-S-methyl and protection of postharvest rock melons and Hami melons from disease

A pre-flowering foliar spray of the plant activator acibenzolar-S-methyl at 50 mg/L a.i. combined with a fruit dip in guazatine at 500 mg/L a.i. at harvest substantially decreased disease in stored melons. Major diseases occurring on rock melons and Hami melons were caused by Fusarium spp., Alternaria spp., Rhizopus spp. and Trichothecium sp. The treatment with acibenzolar-S-methyl alone was significantly effective in reduction of the disease severity in many but not all situations. The fungicide guazatine alone significantly decreased infection by Fusarium spp. but had a lesser effect on that caused by Alternaria spp. and Rhizopus spp.