Problem With Watermelon Plants Shrivelling Up
Watermelons require the same care as other types of melons, except that they need a longer growing season, more heat and more space. Keeping the plants healthy and providing proper growing conditions can help the plant withstand pests and disease, but despite your best efforts pests, some common fungi and viruses can damage or even kill watermelon plants.
Some common pests of watermelons that feed on foliage, causing plant to shrivel, include aphids and epilachna beetles. Aphids are tiny insects found on the underside of leaves that feed on plant sap with their piercing mouth parts. This feeding causes leaves to yellow, curl, pucker and eventually die. Aphids are vectors of watermelon mosaic virus and other viruses. Epilachna beetle adults and larvae feed on watermelon, causing leaves to shrivel, dry up and die. Control consists of using row covers to protect plants and planting resistant varieties when available.
A common root pest of many home garden crops, including watermelon, is the root knot nematode. This pest feeds on roots, causing negative effects for the entire plant. As they feed and mature in the roots, the nematodes restrict the plant's water and nutrient uptake. This causes plant leaves to wilt, and immature plants can become severely stunted and chlorotic. Watermelon plants generally do not die as a result of this nematode's feedings but are not productive. Root knot nematodes are difficult to control, but one method that can prove effective is soil solarization.
The watermelon is vulnerable to viruses, many of them carried by insects, such as cucumber beetles and aphids. Viruses, such as watermelon mosiac, stunt plant growth and cause shriveling, distorting, mottling, crinkling and discoloration of plant leaves. To control these viruses, you have to control the pests that cause them. Some effective control methods to keep plants healthy include regular monitoring and keeping the garden area clear of weeds that can harbor insects.
Various fungi can affect watermelon plant leaves. Downy mildew affects many types of plants. Watermelon affected with down mildew exhibit symptoms such as leaves that curl inward, turn brown and die along with irregular-shaped fruit. Fusarium wilt is another fungus that attacks the root first and travels up the plant stems. Affected plants exhibit symptoms of wilting and stunted growth before dying. Controls for fungi include avoiding overhead watering, good sanitation practices, crop rotation and, if necessary, chemical controls.
- UMassAmherst: Aphid Melon
- University of Wisconsin Bio Web: The Watermelon
- Arizona University Extension Plant Pathology: Diseases of Watermelon ( Citrullus Lanatus ) in Arizona
- University of Minnesoata Extension: Common Diseases in the Home Garden
- Clemson Cooperative Extension: Cucumber, Squash, Melon & Other Cucurbit Diseases
- The New Sunset Western Garden Book; Kathleen Norris Brenzel, Editor
Based in Indiana, Molly Allman holds a B.A. in professional writing. She works as both a writer and author and enjoys writing articles on many different topics. She specializes in topics concerning health, crafts, family and lifestyles. Her fiction writing appears in "Bewildering Stories," "The Other Herald" and "Spectacular Speculations."