Bacterial Wilt in Cucurbits: Symptoms, Spread, and Prevention

Common on cucumbers; also hits muskmelons, squash, pumpkins. Worst east of Rockies in moist weather. Spread by cucumber beetles feeding on foliage. Symptoms: rapid wilting, death of young seedlings. Test: cut stem near base, squeeze—sticky bacterial ooze confirms.

Prevention

• Choose resistant varieties.
• Infected plants won't recover—remove them.
• Use floating row covers to exclude beetles.
• Or spray pyrethrin to deter beetles.

No chemical cure.