Abstract
A mixture of CuSO4 and acetic acid disinfested wax gourd seeds that had been infested with Acidovorax citrulli more effectively than did ascorbic acid, peroxyacetic acid or a mixture of oxytetracycline, streptomycin and CuSO4. Seeds of melon, cucumber and wax gourd were completely disinfested after a 60-min soak in the mixture followed by dry-heat at 75°C for 4 days without affecting germination. Seeds of brown seed squash, large seed squash and bottle gourd were disinfested by a 60-min soak in the mixture followed by dry-heat at 80°C for 4 days, which caused a small delay in germination. Any treatments of small or white seeds of squash that combined a soak in the chemical mixture with dry heat and effectively disinfested the seeds also inhibited germination.
