Association of dsRNA to Down-Regulation of Perithecial Synthesis in Monosporascus cannonballus

INTRODUCTION

In the last twenty-five years, soilborne diseases have become the yield-limiting factor in many cucurbit production areas around the world [1]. Monosporascus cannonballus (Pollack and Uecker) is one of the most important soilborne pathogens causing vine decline of muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) and watermelon (Citrullus lanatus [Thunb.] Matsum. & Nakai). Mertely et al. [2] found that M. cannonballus was pathogenic on a broad range of cucurbits. Although the melon disease was first described in Israel, M. cannonballus has been reported in United States, Libya, Iran, Japan, Israel, Spain, India, Pakistan, Tunisia, Taiwan, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Saudi Arabia [1], Italy [3], Korea [4], Brazil [5], and Egypt [6]. The disease complex in which M. cannonballus is thought to be the primary pathogen is referred to as vine decline, Monosporascus wilt, melon collapse, root rot, or sudden wilt. Melons and watermelons are grown in hot semi-arid to arid regions as well as subtropical environments around the world. High temperatures play a major role in the incidence of vine decline, caused by M. cannonballus [7]. As the disease name implies, the wilt of the cucurbit vines occurs suddenly just prior to harvest. Symptoms of the disease include the yellowing and death of the crown leaves that gradually radiates out and kills the vine as the fruit approach maturity (Fig. 1).

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