Systemic acquired resistance (SAR) is a physiological defense response in plants conferring broad spectrum resistance to pathogens. SAR is inducible through infection by necrotizing pathogens or chemical inducers and involves the systemic activation of defense related genes. Our objectives were to evaluate resistance expression to phytophthora soft rot fruit in cucumber in response to increasing concentrations of 2,6 dichloroisonicotinic acid (INA) and benzo (1,2,3)thiadiazole-7-carbothioc acid S-methyl ester (BTH) by foliar applications. Excised leaves exhibited a resistance response to foliar applications of all concentrations of INA and BTH tested when challenge inoculated with Colletotrichum lagenarium. There was increasing benefit with increasing concentration of each chemical applied. Harvested cucumber fruit, 3.4 to 4.5 cm in diameter, were challenge inoculated with Phytophthora capsici; there were no significant chemical and rate interactions in terms of internal lesion measurements. Overall, INA consistently reduced lesion size in cucumber fruit. A bioassay conducted on fruit of different maturity levels, as defined by fruit diameter, revealed that larger sized fruit (4 to 5 cm) were more resistant to fruit rot. Fruit with diameters of 3 to 4 cm from plots treated with BTH showed little resistance as compared to the control and fruit from the same treatment with diameters of 2 to 3 cm. Fruit from plots treated with INA had at least 50% reduction in lesion size than the control. It is unclear if these differences were attributable to changes in physiological or anatomical factors. The true importance of these results should be interpreted with caution. Yield studies have not been conducted, and thus, with the experienced stunting, treatment with 100 ppm INA would be expected to lower yield and perhaps fruit quality. Determination of the optimal application regime and other cultural factors will provide broad control of plant diseases.