Evaluating Cucurbit Rootstocks to Prevent Disease Caused by and on Watermelon.

species cause root and stem rot in watermelon (), but cucurbit rootstocks used to graft watermelon have not been evaluated for resistance. and were inoculated onto 15 nongrafted watermelon, citron (), bottle gourd (), and interspecific hybrid squash ( × ) cultivars in a growth chamber. Watermelon was more susceptible than bottle gourd and interspecific hybrid squash at 20 and 30°C. Twenty-one cultivars were inoculated in a field with an equal blend of both species. Interspecific hybrid squash was less susceptible than bottle gourd and watermelon in 2018 and 2019. Seedless watermelon cultivar Tri-X 313 was grafted to one citron, one bottle gourd, and three interspecific hybrid squash rootstocks. Plants were inoculated in the field as described. Grafting to interspecific hybrid squash rootstocks reduced disease incidence compared with nongrafted controls in 2018 and 2019. Mefenoxam and propamocarb applied at transplanting did not affect disease compared with non-fungicide-treated plots. Grafting to interspecific hybrid squash Camelforce significantly increased total and marketable fruit numbers and total weight in 2019 compared with the nongrafted control. In summary, interspecific hybrid squash was consistently resistant to , demonstrating resistance and utility in watermelon grafting.