| Sumario: | The yield response of cantaloupes grown unde Reemay row cover until female flower appearance was evaluated at La Granja, El Palenque, Los Patos and Monjaras, Departament of Choloteca, Honduras, during the second planting of the 1992-1993 season. Covered cantaloupes produced a significantly higher yield (274 boxes/ha) than the uncovered cantaloupes. Virus incidence in plants ranged from p9.9% to 21.0% in non-covered plots and 0.8% to 2.6% in covered plots. The viruses CMV, PRSV, SqMV, WMV-2, ZYMV and Geminiviruses were detected in all three localities. Plants with symptoms of viral infection were first observed 6, 3, 6 and 4 weeks after planting in the noncovered plots at La Granja, El Palenque, Monjara and Los Patos, respectively. The covered plots at Los Patos did not have plants with visual symptoms of virus. At the other localities, symptoms were first observed 6 weeks after planting. Vegetative growth in the covered plants. Although row cover use was not economical in this study, adjustments in crop management may help to increase production to yields that would make its use profitable. Added benefits may be reductions of pesticide use and pest and virus inoculum build-up.
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