The fungus may survive several years in soil. The disease is favored by warm, and sandy soils like those in watermelon-growing areas. Susceptible varieties are killed at any stage of growth. If inoculum levels of Fusarium are high, seedlings may wilt in the field. Foliage of infected plants turn yellow and wilt.
Plants die soon after symptoms are observed.
On the dying vine's stem, a pinkish white cottony growth can appear near ground level. The fungus spreads outward from infected plants. There are three races of the wilt fungus. Genetic resistance has been incorporated into many of the newer cultivars for two of the more commonly occurring viruses. The third race has only been found in a few isolated areas of the world.