Efficacy of fungicides and inducer molecule for management of downy mildew of Cucumber under trellis/non-trellis system of cultivation

The present investigation advocates both primary and secondary source of inoculum to be prevented to achieve sound management of downey mildew disease. The seed treatment with packing mixture of metalaxyl (8%) + mancozeb (64%) was found to prevent systemic infection. However, seed treatment alone could not protect plants in long run from non-systemic infection. Therefore, need based application of fungicide with curative action, clipping and destruction of infected leaves at first site was practiced to break the secondary disease cycle. Salicylic acid or similar defense inducing compounds that act through salicylic acid triggered immunity system was not found to be effective in cucumber-Pseudoperonospora cubensis system.