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Diseases and Pests of Muskmelons and Watermelons

Summary

There are many interpretations of "integrated pest management" (IPM). For many crop disorders, IPM is exercised before the crop is planted by sampling soils and selecting appropriate field sites and varieties to reduce the risk of disease- or pest-related loss during the season. Other crop problems, especially those that become established and spread during the growing season, need almost constant attention from planting until harvest. These problems tend to be the most destructive and require more chemical control inputs to protect the crop. This guide focuses on those challenges that growers confront during the season and the options available to reduce their effects on the crop.