
The disease is caused by the bacterium Erwinia tracheiphila, and at first may only affect a few vines on a plant. The main symptom of this disease is severe wilting of the vines, followed by rapid death of the plant. See also Fact Sheet CE-6 Cucurbit Diseases, an Aid to Identification. More information about growing cucurbit plants is available in the fact sheets: HGIC 1304, Cantaloupe & Honeydew Melon HGIC 1309, Cucumber HGIC 1321, Summer Squash and HGIC 1325, Watermelon. Remove plant debris from the garden after harvest since many diseases survive on plant debris from year to year.Keep the garden and surrounding area free of weeds that harbor insects, which can spread viruses and bacterial wilt.



Select varieties recommended for South Carolina, especially those with some degree of disease resistance (Table 1).Many diseases of cucurbits can be prevented or minimized in the home vegetable garden by using the following simple cultural controls:
