Fusarium fruit rot (Fusarium spp.) of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) and its control with cover crop mulches

In this study fall- and spring-sown cover crop mulches were evaluated for their effect on fruit cleanliness and yield. Yield of pumpkin grown in a strip-tillage production system consisting of fall-sown winter rye ( Secale cereale) and fall-sown rye + hairy vetch (Vicia villosa ) were comparable to conventional production. Yields of pumpkin grown in spring sown, living cover crop mulches of non-dormant perennial alfalfa (Medicago sativa) or annual medic (Medicago spp.) were significantly reduced. Fruit cleanliness was significantly higher in fall-sown cover crops consisting of winter rye or winter rye + hairy vetch compared to conventional production.;The control of Fusarium fruit rot (F. solani f. sp. cucurbitae race 1) with fall- and spring-sown cover crop mulches was evaluated. Fusarium fruit rot was significantly reduced in fall-sown winter rye or winter rye + hairy vetch cover crop mulches compared to conventional production.;Five species of Fusarium associated with causing fruit rot of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) were identified based on their morphology and symptoms produced on infected fruit. Fusarium solani f. sp. cucurbitae race 1 was the most prevalent species found in a survey of rotted fruit from pumpkin fields throughout Ohio.;Ten annual medic (Medicago spp.) cultivars respresenting 5 species were evaluated for ground cover and biomass production. Barrel medic (M. truncatula) cultivars 'Sephi' and 'Carpet' and Snail medic (M. scutellata) cultivars 'Sava' and 'Kelson' outperformed Burr medic (M. polymorpha) cultivars 'Serena', 'Santiago' and 'Polygraze'; Strand medic (M. littoralis) cultivar 'Harbinger' and Wheel medic (M. rotata) cultivar 'Highlander' in ground cover and biomass production.;In this study five species of Fusarium causing fruit rot in pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) including F. solani f. sp. cucurbitae race 1, F. oxysporum, F. graminearum, F. acuminatum and F. chlamydosporum; and five diseases of annual medic, Powdery mildew caused by Erysiphe pisi, Stemphylium leaf spot caused by Stemphylium botryosum , Rust caused by Uromyces striatus, Common leaf spot caused by Pseudopeziza medicaginis and Leptosphaerulina leaf spot caused by Leptosphaerulina briosiana and two pests, Serpentine leafminer (Lyriomyza sp.) and the Two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) were identified and reported here for the first time in Ohio.