Enhancing Systemic Acquired Resistance in Cucumber to Control Root Rot and Wilt Diseases with Reference to Yield and Quality

A B S T R A C T The current methods for controlling root rot and wilt disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-cucumerinum, F. solani, Rhizoctonia solani and Macrophomina phaseolina, the most destructive fungi on cucumber are not yet rely. Salicylic Acid (SA), tartaric acid, GAWDA ® formulation, compost, Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma hamatum, Trichoderma viride and Gliocladium virens were used in this investigation as promising methods for controlling such diseases. Results illustrated that soaking seeds in the antioxidants for 12 h before sowing followed by coating them with a combination of Trichoderma and compost, significantly reduced the disease incidence. It was also found that the triple combination of salicylic acid at 4 mM, T. harzianum and compost (2 t/fed) showed to be an intelligent tactic to enhance the resistance of cucumber plants against the root rot and wilt diseases. Moreover, this approach significantly promoted both yield and quality of the fruits.