Response of cantaloupe hybrids to nitrogen fertilization levels under natural infection with Monosporascus cannonballus

Abstract

Vine decline of cantaloupe plants is a worldwide problem particularly in arid and semi-arid regions under warm and hot weather conditions. This disease has become the main limiting factor for cantaloupe production in N. Sinai during the last few years. Control practices for this disease have not been successful. Therefore, field trials were executed at the experimental farm of the Fac. Environmental Agric. Sci., Suez Canal Univ., under natural infection during 2008 and 2009 growing seasons to study the susceptibility of three cantaloupe hybrids, namely Arafa F 1, Gylaty C8 and Galia F 1 under three levels of nitrogen (80%, 100% and 120% N of the recommended dose). A split plot design with three replicates was used where the cantaloupe hybrids were randomly distributed in the main plots and nitrogen treatments were allowed to sub-plots. Galia F 1 hybrid showed the highest tolerance to infection with M. cannonballus. Galia also performed agronomically as the best tested hybrid, mostly due to increasing total plant growth and it also gave the highest first class fruits and estimated total yield per feddan.