Melanie Lewis Ivey, Hadziabdic, Denita, Hollier, Clayton A., Ferrin, Donald M., Overstreet, Charles
Downy mildew is a foliar disease of cucumbers and other cucurbits caused by Pseudoperonospora cubensis. Athough the pathogen does not attack the fruit, it can cause defoliation and yield loss. On cucumbers, symptoms are first evident as blocky, chlorotic spots that become necrotic. Grayish fungal sporulation may be observed on the underside of the lesions.
Belly rot is caused by soil-borne fungus Rhizoctonia solani. Symptoms occur on the underside and blossom end of the cucumber fruit and can be observed within as little as 24 hours after the pathogen invades cucumbers that are in contact with soil. As the disease progresses, lesions become sunken and irregular in shape. The entire fruit can rot in 72 hours.
The LSU AgCenter and the LSU College of Agriculture