Chemical inducers for resistance induction against powdery mildew of cucumber under greenhouse conditions

Abstract

This study was completed to assess the efficacy of certain chemical inducers (potassium dihydrogen phosphate, potassium monohydrogen phosphate, oxalic acid, salicylic acid, sodium salicylate, ferrous sulfate and magnesium sulfate) compare to flusilazole fungicide against Sphaerotheca fuliginea , the causative fungus of powdery mildew of cucumber under greenhouse conditions. The impact of these elicitors on some biochemical and growth characters of cucumber was also examined. The data demonstrated that the flusilazole was the best treatment against powdery mildew followed by salicylic acid, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, magnesium sulfate, ferrous sulfate, oxalic acid and potassium monohydrogen phosphate, respectively. Marked raise in the measured biochemical parameters (chlorophyll content, peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase) of treated cucumber compare to untreated control. Growth and yield characters (plant height, number of fruits/plant and yield/plant) of cucumber were remarkably increased in cucumber treated with examined elicitors compare to untreated control. The examined chemical inducers could be counted as stand by for control powdery mildew of cucumber.