Most Spanish provinces dedicate some land to melon ( Cucumis melo L. ) cultivation, either dryland or irrigated. It is a spring-summer crop, highly valued especially in the warmer months, but thanks to various cultivation techniques, its production period has been extended to other times of the year.
Only a fraction of the wide variety of melons is grown in Spain compared to those grown in the rest of the world. Melon plants, as we know, are cross-pollinated, and since ancient times, fruit has been selected based on those plants that met the needs of breeders. Currently, hybrid varieties are also being developed, with the introduction of disease-resistant genes and the incorporation of traits that enhance preservation, flavor, and transport resistance, among others.
The climate, the presence of insect pests (some of which transmit viruses), the use of seedlings affected by some type of pre-existing disease, excessive planting density, waterlogged conditions, permanent soil occupation, and the constant cultivation of the same varieties, among other factors, all increase the incidence of pests and diseases.
A number of phytosanitary control methods have always existed, and others are now gradually being introduced and implemented, such as certain preventive and cultural practices, the use of tolerant or resistant varieties, integrated control, etc. All of these are more environmentally friendly control methods, opting for zero-waste products or products certified for use in organic farming.
Since 2017, Cultifort has been testing various trials demonstrating the potential of Spiralis Long Life and Spiralis ECO Long Life to prevent diseases in various crops, including melon.
Spiralis is an effective alternative against diseases such as powdery mildew, downy mildew, anthracnose, cladosporiosis, Didimella, Alternaria, Botrytis and Sclerotinia, and provides greater vigor to the plants treated with Spiralis, which translates into an increase in productivity, mainly due to an increase of 27% in the weight of the fruits and 29% in their diameter, completely mitigating the edge effect.
