EVALUATION OF SOME NON-CHEMICAL METHODSTOCONTROLSOME SOILBORNE FUNGI AND FOLIAGE DISEASES OF CUCUMBER

Abstract

Fruits and vegetables are important for the human diet. They added flavor and supply essential nutrients such as vitamins and minerals. They are also a major source of complex carbohydrates, antioxidants and anti­ carcinogenic su bstances, which are important to human health (Joseph , 1994).

Family Cucurbitaceae is considered one of the most important and wildly distributed vegetable crops in Egypt and over the whole world.

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is one of the most important economically crops which belonging to family Cucurbitaceae . Cucumber is grown either in open field or under greenhouse (glasshouses, plastic houses and tunnel s) conditions. Cucumber represents one of the most important and economic vegetable crops in the Arab Republic of Egypt. The economic importance of thi s crop appears in both local consumption and exportation purposes.

The purpose of growing crops under greenhouse conditions is to extend their croppi ng season and to protect them from adverse environmental conditions as well as diseases and pests (Hanam et a/. , 1978).

According to the recorded data obtained from the Department of Agricultural Economi c Statistical, Minist ry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, the culti vated area of cucu mber in 1 999 growi ng season reached about 58249 feddans in open fields, which yielded 433242 tons fruits. On the other hand, the culti vated organic greenhouses of cucumber in 1999 growing season reached about 47 greenhouses, yielded about 282 ton fruits.

Several fungal diseases attack cucumber plants during all growmg stages causing a consi derable reduction in either number of cucumber plant/area or yield/feddan. Both damping-off [Fusarium solani (Mart.) Sacc., Rhizoctonia solani (Ku hn.) a nd Sclerotium rolfsii (Sacc.) Curzi]