Downy Mildew

Credits:Biovision-Infonet

Symptoms on leaves appear as small, pale-yellow areas on upper leaf surface. Under humid conditions, a purplish, grey whitish growth may be seen on the underside of the yellowish spots. Affected leaves curl, shrivel and die. Most downy mildew fungi require cool weather for reproduction and development. This is not true of the cucurbit downy mildew fungus. Optimum temperature for infection is at 16 to 22degC . It can survive when temperatures are over 37.8degC . The most critical factor for infection is a film of moisture and / or long dew periods on leaves.

Disease spread is primarily thorough by wind and rain splash. The fungus attacks only members of the cucumber family, mostly those that are cultivated, although it can infect wild cucumber and a few other weed hosts.

What to do:

• Use resistant varieties, if available.
• Avoid wetting the leaves during irrigation.
• Destroy weeds belonging to the cucurbit family