Honeydew Measles: A Potential Threat to Commercial Honeydew Production

The current theory is that the high soil temperatures keep roots functioning at a high rate while low air temperatures slow down the metabolism of the upper portions of the plant. Although the process is still not well understood, apparently these conditions force the development of symptoms in the fruit, perhaps by causing an oversupply of water within the plant. It is unclear whether the symptoms are a directly result from tissue damage from high internal turgor pressure, or whether they result simply from increased guttation within the fruit. Whatever the cause, the damage is real; fruit showing the symptoms rarely can be sold.