Diagnostic Guide for Cucurbit Downy Mildew

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 166-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andres Salcedo ◽  
Mary Hausbeck ◽  
Stacey Pigg ◽  
Lina M. Quesada-Ocampo
Keyword(s):  
Downy Mildew ◽  
Host Resistance ◽  
The United States ◽  
Geographic Range ◽  
Pseudoperonospora Cubensis ◽  
Pathogen Identification ◽  
Cucurbit Downy Mildew ◽  
Identification Evaluation ◽  
And Storage ◽  
Symptoms And Signs

Cucurbit downy mildew caused by the oomycete Pseudoperonospora cubensis is the most devastating foliar disease on cultivated cucurbitaceous crops. Failure of host resistance in cucumber and previously effective fungicides has occurred in the last few years in the United States and Europe, making accurate and early diagnosis critical for timely disease management. The objective of this diagnostic guide is to describe the current taxonomy, host, geographic range, symptoms, and signs as well as effective techniques for pathogen identification, evaluation, isolation, and storage for P. cubensis.

scholarly journals Utility of a Cucumber Plant Bioassay to Assess Fungicide Efficacy Against Pseudoperonospora cubensis

Plant Disease ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 100 (2) ◽  
pp. 490-499 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony P. Keinath
Keyword(s):  
Downy Mildew ◽  
The United States ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Cucumber Plant ◽  
Pseudoperonospora Cubensis ◽  
Water Control ◽  
Cucurbit Downy Mildew ◽  
Potted Plants ◽  
Fungicide Efficacy ◽  
Pathogen Populations

Over a dozen fungicides are registered in the United States to manage cucurbit downy mildew caused by Pseudoperonospora cubensis. Efficacy varies greatly among them, due, in part, to reduced sensitivity to some fungicides in some pathogen populations. The objective of this study was to determine whether fungicide efficacy could be assessed using fungicide-treated cucumber (Cucumis sativus) exposed to natural inoculum for a brief period. Potted cucumber plants were treated with water or 1 of 13 fungicides registered to control cucurbit downy mildew. One day later, they were placed in a field among cucumber plants that had symptoms and signs of downy mildew. After a 48-h exposure to P. cubensis, potted plants were moved to a growth chamber held at day and night temperatures of 21 and 18°C, respectively, and 50% relative humidity. Severity (leaf area with symptoms) of downy mildew was rated 5 and 7 days later. The assay was done eight times, twice each in July and October 2013 and 2014. Year, season, trial, and interactions among these factors affected downy mildew development. Severity at 7 days on plants treated with mandipropamid, azoxystrobin, dimethomorph, cymoxanil, fluopicolide, and propamocarb was not significantly different from the water control treatment in eight, five, three, three, two, and two of eight bioassays, respectively. Severity on plants treated with cyazofamid, fluazinam, mancozeb + zoxamide, mancozeb, chlorothalonil, and ametoctradin + dimethomorph was less than on plants treated with water in all bioassays. These six fungicides should be effective when applied early in the season to prevent initial infections. Cyazofamid and mancozeb + zoxamide prevented an increase in severity between rating times. In conclusion, the assay consistently detected resistance to mandipropamid and azoxystrobin and demonstrated the efficacy of six other fungicides.

scholarly journals Occurrence and Distribution of Mating Types of Pseudoperonospora cubensis in the United States

2017 ◽  
Vol 107 (3) ◽  
pp. 313-321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Thomas ◽  
Ignazio Carbone ◽  
Yigal Cohen ◽  
Peter S. Ojiambo
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
South Carolina ◽  
Downy Mildew ◽  
Mating Type ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
The United States ◽  
Pseudoperonospora Cubensis ◽  
Mating Types ◽  
Cucurbit Downy Mildew ◽  
Golden Yellow

During the past two decades, a resurgence of cucurbit downy mildew has occurred around the world, resulting in severe disease epidemics. In the United States, resurgence of the disease occurred in 2004 and several hypotheses, including introduction of a new genetic recombinant or pathotype of the pathogen, have been suggested as potential causes for this resurgence. Occurrence and distribution of mating types of Pseudoperonospora cubensis in the United States were investigated using 40 isolates collected from cucurbits across 11 states from 2005 to 2013. Pairing of unknown isolates with known mating-type tester strains on detached leaves of cantaloupe or cucumber resulted in oospore formation 8 to 10 days after inoculation. Isolates differed in their ability to form oospores across all coinoculation pairings, with oospore numbers ranging from 280 to 1,000 oospores/cm2 of leaf tissue. Oospores were hyaline to golden-yellow, spherical, and approximately 36 μm in diameter. Of the 40 isolates tested, 24 were found to be of the A1 mating type, while 16 were of the A2 mating type. Mating type was significantly (P < 0.0001) associated with host type, whereby all isolates collected from cucumber were of the A1 mating type, while isolates from squash and watermelon were of the A2 mating type. Similarly, mating type was significantly (P = 0.0287) associated with geographical region, where isolates from northern-tier states of Michigan, New Jersey, New York, and Ohio were all A1, while isolates belonging to either A1 or A2 mating type were present in equal proportions in southern-tier states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas. Viability assays showed that oospores were viable and, on average, approximately 40% of the oospores produced were viable as determined by the plasmolysis method. This study showed that A1 and A2 mating types of P. cubensis are present and the pathogen could potentially reproduce sexually in cucurbits within the United States. In addition, the production of viable oospores reported in this study suggests that oospores could have an important role in the biology of P. cubensis and could potentially influence the epidemiology of cucurbit downy mildew in the United States.

Efficacy of Fungicides for Pseudoperonospora cubensis Determined using Bioassays over Multiple Years in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jake Gardner Jones ◽  
Kathryne L. Everts ◽  
Margaret Tuttle McGrath ◽  
Beth K. Gugino
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
New York ◽  
Downy Mildew ◽  
The United States ◽  
Pathogen Resistance ◽  
Pseudoperonospora Cubensis ◽  
Cucurbit Downy Mildew ◽  
Fungicide Efficacy ◽  
Repeated Applications ◽  
Primary Management

In the United States, fungicides are the primary management option for cucumber growers to protect their crops from Pseudoperonospora cubensis, the causal agent of cucurbit downy mildew. Pathogen resistance to some fungicides can quickly develop with the repeated applications needed to protect yield. In order to determine fungicide efficacy and monitor it over time, bioassays were conducted from 2016-2019 in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York. Potted cucumber plants were either sprayed with fungicides or not treated, placed next to field-grown plants with cucurbit downy mildew for up to two days, then kept in a greenhouse until symptoms developed. Severity of symptoms or number of lesions on leaves was recorded 6-14 days after exposure started and used to determine fungicide efficacy. Quadris (azoxystrobin) was ineffective in seven of the nine bioassays, while Revus (mandipropamid) was ineffective in six of seven bioassays. Forum (dimethomorph) and Presidio (fluopicolide) were ineffective in three of eight and four of nine bioassays, respectively. The most effective fungicides were Bravo (chlorothalonil), Zing! (zoxamide + chlorothalonil), and Orondis (oxathiapiprolin), all of which consistently suppressed disease severity more than 90% when compared with the untreated control. Previcur Flex (propamocarb hydrochloride) and Ranman (cyazofamid) were also effective in every bioassay.

Population Analyses Reveal Two Host-Adapted Clades of Pseudoperonospora cubensis, the Causal Agent of Cucurbit Downy Mildew, on Commercial and Wild Cucurbits

2020 ◽  
Vol 110 (9) ◽  
pp. 1578-1587 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. C. Wallace ◽  
K. N. D’Arcangelo ◽  
L. M. Quesada-Ocampo
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
North Carolina ◽  
Downy Mildew ◽  
Random Mating ◽  
The United States ◽  
Causal Agent ◽  
Host Susceptibility ◽  
Pseudoperonospora Cubensis ◽  
Cucurbit Downy Mildew ◽  
Population Analyses

Pseudoperonospora cubensis, the causal agent of cucurbit downy mildew, is an airborne, obligate oomycete pathogen that re-emerged in 2004 and causes foliar disease and yield losses in all major cucurbit crops in the United States. Approximately 60 species in the family Cucurbitaceae have been reported as hosts of P. cubensis. Commercial hosts including cucumber, cantaloupe, pumpkin, squash, and watermelon are grown in North Carolina and many host species occur in the wild as weeds. Little is known about the contribution of wild cucurbits to the yearly epidemic; thus, this study aimed to determine the role of commercial and wild cucurbits in the structuring of P. cubensis populations in North Carolina, a region with high pathogen diversity. Ten microsatellite markers were used to analyze 385 isolates from six commercial and four wild cucurbits from three locations representing different growing regions across North Carolina. Population analyses revealed that wild and commercial cucurbits are hosts of P. cubensis in the United States, that host is the main factor structuring P. cubensis populations, and that P. cubensis has two distinct, host-adapted clades at the cucurbit species level, with clade 1 showing random mating and evidence of recombination and clade 2 showing nonrandom mating and no evidence of recombination. Our findings have implications for disease management because clade-specific factors such as host susceptibility and inoculum availability of each clade by region may influence P. cubensis outbreaks in different commercial cucurbits, timing of fungicide applications, and phenotyping for breeding efforts.

scholarly journals Fungicides for Control of Downy Mildew on Pickling Cucumber in Michigan

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 165-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katelyn E. Goldenhar ◽  
Mary K. Hausbeck
Keyword(s):  
Downy Mildew ◽  
Untreated Control ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Pseudoperonospora Cubensis ◽  
Relative Area ◽  
Disease Progress Curve ◽  
Cucurbit Downy Mildew ◽  
Disease Progress ◽  
Pickling Cucumber ◽  
Progress Curve

Michigan growers rely on fungicides to limit cucurbit downy mildew (CDM), incited by Pseudoperonospora cubensis; resistance of the pathogen to fungicides is a concern. We evaluated fungicides against CDM in Michigan field studies from 2015 to 2017. According to the relative area under the disease progress curve (rAUDPC), in 2015, mandipropamid, propamocarb, fluxapyroxad/pyraclostrobin, copper octanoate, and dimethomorph resulted in disease levels similar to the control. These treatments, along with cymoxanil, were similar to the control in 2016. Fungicides that were ineffective during 2015 and 2016 did not limit CDM in 2017. Famoxadone/cymoxanil and fluopicolide did not limit CDM in 2017. Each year, the following treatments were similar for disease based on rAUDPC data: oxathiapiprolin applied alone or premixed with chlorothalonil or mandipropamid, ametoctradin/dimethomorph, fluazinam, mancozeb/zoxamide, cyazofamid, and ethaboxam. An exception occurred in 2017, when ethaboxam was less effective than fluazinam, oxathiapiprolin/chlorothalonil, and oxathiapiprolin/mandipropamid. Mancozeb and chlorothalonil treatments were similar in 2015 and 2017, according to rAUDPC data. In 2017, yields were increased for oxathiapiprolin/chlorothalonil, oxathiapiprolin/mandipropamid, mancozeb, ametoctradin/dimethomorph, mancozeb/zoxamide, ethaboxam, cyazofamid, chlorothalonil, and fluazinam compared with the untreated control.

scholarly journals Resurgence of Cucurbit Downy Mildew in the United States: A Watershed Event for Research and Extension

Plant Disease ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 99 (4) ◽  
pp. 428-441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald J. Holmes ◽  
Peter S. Ojiambo ◽  
Mary K. Hausbeck ◽  
Lina Quesada-Ocampo ◽  
Anthony P. Keinath
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
North Carolina ◽  
Downy Mildew ◽  
The United States ◽  
Crop Loss ◽  
Eastern United States ◽  
Cucumis Sativus L ◽  
Cucurbit Downy Mildew ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Rapid Spread

In 2004, an outbreak of cucurbit downy mildew (CDM) caused by the oomycete Pseudoperonospora cubensis (Berk. & M. A. Curtis) Rostovzev resulted in an epidemic that stunned the cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) industry in the eastern United States. The disease affects all major cucurbit crops, including cucumber, muskmelon, squashes, and watermelon. Although the 2004 epidemic began in North Carolina, the cucumber crop from Florida to the northern growing regions in the United States was devastated, resulting in complete crop loss in several areas. Many cucumber fields were abandoned prior to harvest. The rapid spread of the disease coupled with the failure of fungicide control programs surprised growers, crop consultants, and extension specialists. The epidemic raised several fundamental questions about the potential causes for the resurgence of the disease. Some of these questions revolved around whether the epidemic would recur in subsequent years and the possible roles that changes in the host, pathogen, and environment may have played in the epidemic.

scholarly journals Interactive Effects of Temperature and Leaf Wetness Duration on Sporangia Germination and Infection of Cucurbit Hosts by Pseudoperonospora cubensis

Plant Disease ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 96 (3) ◽  
pp. 345-353 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. N. Neufeld ◽  
P. S. Ojiambo
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Downy Mildew ◽  
Disease Severity ◽  
Leaf Wetness ◽  
Pseudoperonospora Cubensis ◽  
Weibull Function ◽  
Leaf Wetness Duration ◽  
Cucurbit Downy Mildew ◽  
Host Type ◽  
Effects Of Temperature

Outbreaks of cucurbit downy mildew caused by Pseudoperonospora cubensis are dependent on the weather but effects of temperature and leaf wetness duration on infection have not been studied for different cucurbits. To determine the effects of these two weather variables on sporangia germination and infection of cucurbit host types by P. cubensis, three host types; cucumber (‘Straight 8’), cantaloupe (‘Kermit’), and acorn squash (‘Table Queen’), were inoculated and exposed to leaf wetness durations of 2 to 24 h at six constant temperatures ranging from 5 to 30°C in growth-chamber experiments. Sporangia germination was assessed after each wetness period, and leaf area infected was assessed 5 and 7 days after inoculation. Germination of sporangia was highest on cantaloupe (16.5 to 85.7%) and lowest on squash (10.7 to 68.9%), while disease severity was highest and lowest on cucumber and cantaloupe, respectively. Host type, temperature, wetness duration and their interactions significantly (P < 0.0001) affected germination and disease severity. Germination and disease data for each host type were separately fitted to a modified form of a Weibull function that characterizes a unimodal response and monotonic increase of germination or infection with temperature and wetness duration, respectively. The effect of host type on germination and infection was characterized primarily by differences in the upper limit parameter in response to temperature. Differences among host types based on other parameters were either small or inconsistent. Temperature and wetness duration that supported a given level of germination or infection varied among host types. At 20°C, 15% leaf area infected was expected following 2, 4, and 8 h of wetness for cucumber, squash, and cantaloupe, respectively. When temperature was increased to 25°C, 15% disease severity was expected following 3, 7, and 15 h of wetness for cucumber, squash, and cantaloupe, respectively. Risk charts were constructed to estimate the potential risk of infection of cucurbit host types by P. cubensis based on prevailing or forecasted temperature and leaf wetness duration. These results will improve the timing and application of the initial fungicide spray for the control of cucurbit downy mildew.

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