Effect of combination between inducer resistance chemicals and systemic fungicides on management of sweet melon downy mildew

Abstract

The efficiency of some inducer resistance chemicals (IRCs) like bion, chitosan, humic acid and salicylic acid as well as the fungicides like Folu-Gold, Galben Copper, Previcure-N and Redomil Gold Mancozeb on management of sweet melon downy mildew, caused by Pseudoperonospora cubensis was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Also, the efficiency of the alternation between the sprayed two fungicides and IRCs on management of the disease and the produced fruit yield and its total soluble solids (TSS) under field conditions were assessed. The inhibitory effect of the IRCs and the tested fungicides on sporangial germination of P. cubensis resulted in a significant reduction in the germinated sporangia. In addition, IRCs were less effective than the fungicides. Disease management revealed the same trend of the in vitro experiment when they sprayed fungicides on sweet melon plants artificially inoculated with the sporangia of the causal fungus under greenhouse conditions. Furthermore, under field conditions, spraying sweet melon plants with the two tested fungicides was the most efficient in decreasing the disease and increasing fruit yield and its TSS, to somewhat, followed by the alternation between them and the tested IRCs. In addition, IRCs treatments showed the lowest efficiency in this regard.