haden@sdcsvax.UUCP (Patricia Haden) (05/01/84)
$$ I was growing two hybrid bush cucumbers in pots. Both were vigorous and growing well. When I came home from work today, one of the two plants was thoroughly wilted and dead looking. Its soil did not seem particularly dry. I watered it and it seems to be improving somewhat, but I don't have much hope for its recovery. The other plant is fine. Does anyone know what might have caused this?
patel@uicsg.UUCP (05/07/84)
#R:sdcsvax:-74000:uicsg:16700004:000:910 uicsg!patel May 7 12:44:00 1984 I am no expert on this but, seems like Fusarium Virus. Vine crops are especially susceptible to Fusarium wilt. I don't know of any way to get rid of this disease. Don't use the same soil again for vine crops (Melons, Cucumbers, Squash etc.). Clean the pot with a chlorine bleach. In future select plants which have been bred for resistance to Fusarium and other wilt viruses. This virus must be serious enough to have Burpee recall the water melon seeds they sent me. The recall notice had very serious warnings. Such as "do not use the same soil again, do not allow these seeds to come in contact with other seeds, do not throw the seedling or the affected plant in your compost." They sent me substitute seeds and a refund and a postage paid envelope for me to return the "bad" seeds so they can properly dispose of these seeds. -Janak Patel, Univ. of Illinois, Urbana ihnp4!uiucdcs!uicsg!patel