EFFECTIVENESS OF NEW FUNGICIDES AGAINST CUCUMBER DOWNY MILDEW UNDER TUNNEL CONDITIONS

Abstract

Cucumber belongs to gourd family (Cucurbitaceae). It is cultivated throughout the world due to its high nutritional value. The crop has to face biotic and abiotic challenges that lower its yield annually. Among these downy mildew of cucumber caused by Pseudoperenospora cubensis is the most devastating. It causes 40% loss worldwide. So the present study was conducted for the management of the downy mildew of cucumber through fungicide under tunnal condition. For this purpose, cucumber variety, “Chairman” was grown at Hafiz Tunnel Farm, Gutwala, Faisalabad under RCBD design during 2012 and 2013.  Chemicals were applied in five treatments.  So, Champion 77 % WP (copper hydroxide) @ 5.00 gm, Champion 77 % WP (copper hydroxide) 2.00 gm, Cabriotop 60% WDG (pyraclostobin+matiram) @ 4.00 gm; Score 25 % EC (difenoconazole) @ 2.00 ml and Ridomil gold 68 WP (metalaxyl + mancozeb) @ 2.50 gm/liter water were sprayed seven to eight times according to disease prevailing conditions.  Result showed that among all treatments, Ridomil gold 68 WP gave excellent control (88.56%) in which minimum disease incidence (7.33)% was recorded as compared to control (66.90%). Champion 77 % WP   significantly reduced the disease at all concentrations.  It reduced 86.95% disease @ 5.00 gm/lit water and  81.9%  at 2.00 gm per liter water. Cabriotop 60% WDG reduced the disease level upto 9.71 with disease decrease percentage of 84.90 whereas Score 25% EC gave 80.91% control (disease incidence 12.14). All treatments significantly controlled the disease as compared to untreated control.  Data was also recorded for the yield assessment of cucumber in response to application of fungicide. So, It is concluded that use of fungicides is compulsory in reducing the disease incidence and improving the crop yield.