Symptom development and decreased sugar content from internal fruit rot of netted melon caused by Pantoea ananatis group II and its host range

Abstract

In a study of symptom development of internal rot of netted melon fruits inoculated with Pantoea ananatis group II strain SUPP1791, symptoms did not develop immediately, even when bacterial populations reached 10^6~7 cfu/g of fruit tissue. Symptoms in the placenta of the fruit were visible at 40 days post-inoculation, when the bacterial population was ca. 10⁷ cfu/g for at least 10 days. Sugar content was significantly lower in symptomatic tissues than in the asymptomatic. SUPP1791 caused internal rot of fruits of several other cucurbit plants except for cantaloupe and cucumber.