Blue Mold on Melon (Cucumis melo) Caused by Penicillium oxalicum

Kwon, Jin Hyeuk; Kang, Soo Woong; Kim, Jeong Soo; Park, Chang Seuk

Research in Plant Disease 2002;8(4):220-223.
Published online December 30, 2002.

Penicillium oxalicum에 의한 멜론 푸른곰팡이병

권진혁, 강수웅, 김정수, 박창석

Blue Mold on Melon (Cucumis melo) Caused by Penicillium oxalicum

Jin Hyeuk Kwon, Soo Woong Kang, Jeong Soo Kim, Chang Seuk Park

Abstract

In April of 2002, fruit rot infected with blue mold was found at maturing stage of melon (Cucumis melo cv. Gayabaegja) growing under tunnel cultivation in Daesan-myon, Haman-gun, Gyeongnam Province, Korea. Floral parts were infected first and colonized by fungal mycelial mats. From the point of infection, fruits become collapsed and mostly ruptured. The pathogenic fungus from infected fruits was isolated. Colony color of the fungus was white on MEA and CYA agar. Conidia were ellipsoid and 2.6~7.4×2.6~5.8 mm in size. Stipes were 86~320×2.8~4.3 mm in size. Metulae were 12.4~31.6×2.6~4.2 mm in size. Phialides were ampulliform to cylindroid, and 8.2~15.4×3.6~4.6 mm in size. Rate of infected fruits in the field was 4.3%. Based on the cultural and mycological characteristics and pathogenecity test on host plants, the fungus was identified as Penicillium oxalicum. This is the first report on the blue mold of melon (Cucumis melo) caused by P. oxalicum in Korea.

Key Words: Blue mold, Cucumis melo, Penicillium oxalicum