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Ten muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) cultivars were tested for their susceptibility to bacterial wilt, caused by Erwinia trucheiphila (Smith) Bergey, Harrison, Breed, Hammer and Huntoon and vectored by the striped cucumber beetle Acalymma vittatum (F). `Superstar', `Rising Star', `Pulsar', `Caravelle', `Cordele', `Legend', `Makdimon', `Galia', `Rocky Sweet', and `Passport' were used in field studies to determine the number of striped cucumber beetles, feeding damage, and incidence of bacterial wilt. `Makdimon' and `Rocky Sweet' hosted significantly more beetles than the other cultivars. These two cultivars and `Legend' and `Cordele' had much more feeding damage and a significantly higher incidence of bacterial wilt than the others. A greenhouse experiment was conducted with seven of the cultivars to test their susceptibility to bacterial wilt when directly inoculated with the causal agent. All cultivars were equally susceptible to the disease when it was introduced directly into the plant. Selective feeding by striped cucumber beetles was probably most responsible for `Makdimon', `Rocky Sweet', `Legend', and `Cordele' having greater incidences of bacterial wilt than the other cultivars.
Field and laboratory experiments were conducted to study the effect of soil applied (Carbofuran) Furadan on watermelon and cantaloupe yields. Yields were significantly (p≤ 0.05) greater when Furadan was used than when it was not. The observed yield increases may have been due to factors other than just the insecticidal properties. Other systemic insecticides demonstrated no similar increase in yield. Yield increases were also evident even when plants were grown in sterile soil. Yield increase was due to a significant increase in the first harvest of watermelon and the first three harvests of cantaloupe. Numbers of fruit and average wt/fruit were increased for watermelon at the first harvest. Midwest growers usually receive the highest price per pound of watermelon at the first harvest. This significant increase in early harvest more than pays for the application of the chemical.