Microwave oven as a clean technology for the eradication of fusariosis in melon.

摘要

The causal agent of Fusarium wilt in melon (Cucumis melo) is the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis. One of the main ways in which this fungus is transferred is the re-use of propagation trays in nursery greenhouses. This work shows that, during the commercial production of melon plantlets, subjecting these trays to microwave energy in a prototype oven can eradicate this fungus. The low energy performance of this oven would increase the price of seedlings by only 6.25x10-3 Eurocents over the current market price of 19 Eurocents per plant. Since this method obviates the need for pesticides, it also affords environmental advantages..