Over the past growing seasons, our research has found spray programs containing Ranman (2.75 floz/A) to offer the best protection from this disease. Presidio (4 floz/A) and Previcur Flex (1.2 pt/A) are also effective, however, we caution growers to rely upon these materials solely as our trial results from 2009 – 2011 for Previcur Flex and 2011 for Presidio were not as favorable as in past seasons in our cucumber CDM trials. These materials should be rotated/tank mixed with protectant fungicides containing mancozeb or chlorothalonil. Fungicide applications should be initiated prior to disease development and applied on a 7-10 day schedule. Growers will realize optimal disease control when applications are made in at least 20 GPA of water and crop coverage is good. Cultural practices, such as avoiding low lying fields and excessive overhead irrigation, will also suppress disease development. There are some differences in the susceptibility of cucumber cultivars to CDM. If you have any questions along those lines, please feel free to contact us.
Cucurbit downy mildew can be recognized initially by small
yellow spots on the upper surface of the lower leaves. When humidity is high (particularly early in
the morning) blue/gray sporulation can be found on the underside of the leaves. If you have any further
questions or think you have cucurbit downy mildew present in your field, please
let us know. We will continue to update
you on the progress of this disease.
This is an unusually early finding of this disease this far north.
Associate Professor of Plant Pathology
Director
Virginia Tech – Eastern Shore AREC
