Tutoring cucumbers is a way to reduce diseases also provides conditions that reduce the incidence and development of bacteria.

It is very important to recognize cucumber diseases as soon as symptoms appear.  And know their possible treatments to avoid further propagation, increasing the effects of losses or affections they may provoke.

A lot of research went into knowing more about these diseases. And also has turn into treatments that allow crops to develop without be attack by pathogens. These treatments are more efficient if they are use in preventive ways. And it have be watch that their efficiency decreases once the crop is affect by the condition.

Better results are take when prevent measures along with sound cultural practices. Tutoring is an essential horticultural practice for growing cucumber.  A crop with a tutoring net like suggested by HORTOMALLAS®. Besides becoming more efficient when applying preventive chemical treatments. It will allows the plant to expand its sun light exposition also capture. While at the same time favoring aeration in between plants, avoiding excessive humidity accumulation. That will encourage the development of diseases.

Angular leaf stain (pseudomonas syringae, P. Lachymans)

The pathogens responsible for this infection are the cucumber bacterias Pseudomonas lachrymans and also P. Syringae.

Damages cause by these bacterias can be watch on the leaf: on the top it shows points of humidity. Also on the lower part of the leaf we may see gray colored stains. With a watery semblance sometimes delimited with a yellow halo.

Sometimes depending on conditions drops of exudate are present.

The leaf´s rib limits the stains which makes them have an angular shape. This pathogen may dry and also fall from the rest of the leaf causing perforations.

Damages that may appear on the fruit are superficial and also only skin deep. Causing the fruit to have a poor aspect also affecting its marketable opportunity.

Bacteria is disseminate by rain or workers´ contact.

(xanthomonas campestris pv cucurbitae )

Symptoms for this disease are similar to the angular stain. But bacterial stain does not show exudate drops, like angular stain this may infect stem, petiole and fruit. It presents humid stains that evolve to dry stains.

Bacteria rot or soft rot (erwinia carotovora)

This bacteria is find in the soil.  In order to infect the plant it will use any vegetable matter wounds at the neck level. Causing soft rot on the stem. Tissues will assume a brown color and possible further stains will present depending on conditions.

When the bacterial infection is initiate, the fruit will appear as damp in certain areas that will rot later.

Bacterial diseases Agro-Chemical treatments

Usually all bacterial contagions are cause by: using infected seeds. Bacteria use seeds as a way to disseminate, or direct mechanical contact with a sick plant. Usually workers come in contact with plants during pruning during the right moon phase and tutoring.  Also insects may be the cause of mechanical transmission of bacteria in cucumbers.

Knowing exactly the type of pathogens we are facing with. Will increase the chances of a cure, by aiming specific targets.

Once we have the right diagnosis for cucumber disease we must apply the right treatment. But in most cases is recommend to erradicate the infected plants. Since most existing treatments are more useful in disease prevention.

The follow agrochemicals can be use to prevent bacteria incidence in cucumbers. Copper sulfate, copper hydroxide, copper oxychloryde, kasugamicina, streptomycin sulfate also oxytetracycline.

Bacterial withering, bacterial wilt (Erwinia tracheiphila)

This bacteria is transmitted by vectors like the beetles Acalymma vittata also Diabrotica undecimpunctata.

The first symptom observed in the plant affected. By bacterial wilt is the sudden leaf withering that will later lead to plant´s death.

Since the infection of the crop is due to mechanical vectors. One of the preventive treatment is to avoid this vectors. From entering the cultivated area or using insecticide to avoid beetles contact with the plant. (or better yet biological controls with the predator that feeds on these beetles.

Preventive measures to minimize bacterial infections:

recommendations to avoid bacteria incidence on crops are:

• get the ground, tools also workers perfectly disinfected
• using healthy seeds
• monitoring the crop regularly
• take away identified sick plant remains
• eliminate possible reservoirs of possible vectors
• crop rotation
• eliminate undergrowth weeds
• using bacteria resistant varieties
• using trellises to avoid humidity accumulation

Cucumber plants with trellis net

The cucurbit netting by  HORTOMALLAS® is recommended. As preventive measure since it helps avoiding large periods of  humidity, and allows the crops better aeration; it reduces possible contagion by workers´s coming in contact. With the plant as the netting requires a lot less labor than tutoring with raffia twine.

This informative material may be of help to identify bacterial diseases. But it is recommended to consult with your local trained agronomist for a better diagnosis. And tests before deciding what course of action to take in order to save your diseased cucumber crop.

Biol. Diana Jiménez.
Reference.

Alonzo-Torres M. 2007. Producción de Hortalizas todo el año. Mozambique. Recuperado el 12 de octubre de 2015.

Zamudio González, B. Felix Reyes, A. 2014. Producción de pepino bajo invernadero en Valles Altos del Estado de México. Recuperado el 12 de octubre de 2015.

Productores de Hortalizas. 2005. Plagas y enfermedades de cucurbitáceas. Guía de identificación y manejo. Recuperado el 12 de octubre de 2015.

Arias S. 2007. Proyecto de diversificación económica rural. Manual de producción. Producción de pepino. Recuperado el 12 de octubre de 2015.

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