Root rot of cucumbers in a greenhouse: treatment, photo, how to deal

Diseases often prevent gardeners from harvesting cucumbers. One of the most dangerous for the culture is root rot. It develops “secretly” for a long time, in the later stages it is impossible to cope with it. Therefore, prevention and competent agricultural technology are especially important. To prevent infection and fight against a pathogen that has just begun to become active, there are preparations for the root rot of cucumbers of chemical and biological origin, as well as folk remedies.

Causative agent

Root rot is a fungal disease. It can be caused by various microorganisms. Cucumbers are most often affected by phytoparasites of the “category” Pythium – debaryanum, ultimum, aphanidermatum.

The “hidden” period of development of the root rot of cucumbers stretches for 2-15 days

Causes

The fungus itself is carried by gusts of wind or “moves” with drops of water during rain. However, only the presence of a pathogen for the development of cucumber root rot is not enough. It also requires conditions favorable for its active reproduction, and the presence of mechanical damage on the roots of the plant, the base of the stem.

Factors that negatively affect immunity and increase the risk of developing cucumber root rot:

• ignoring the rules of crop rotation;
• long-term coolness or heat, sudden changes in temperature;
• frequent heavy rainfall;
• lack of light and fresh air;
• “crowding” of landings;
• planting cucumbers in a too “heavy” substrate that contributes to stagnation of water;
• the use of root rot-infected soil, compost, humus;
• increased acidity of the soil;
• use of excessively cold water for irrigation;
• non-compliance with the schedule of soil moisture in the garden with cucumbers;
• damage to the roots when transferring seedlings to the garden;
• excessive deepening of seedlings;
• incorrect hilling;
• excess nitrogen fertilizers in the soil;
• neglect of disinfection of garden tools, tools, cleaning of plant debris;
• “gnawing” of the roots of cucumbers by pests.

With careless and too deep loosening, it is easy to damage the roots of cucumbers.

Symptoms of the appearance

The danger of root rot of cucumbers is that for a long time it develops exclusively on the roots, without manifesting itself in any way on the aerial parts of plants. The first alarming symptom is regularly losing tone and drooping leaves with a sufficiently moist substrate.

In the early stages of development of root rot, the turgor of cucumber leaves is restored overnight

First, 2-3 lower leaf plates wither daily, gradually this symptom of root rot manifests itself on the entire cucumber bush. The leaves begin to turn yellow, thin and die. Flowers and fruit ovaries fall off. Already formed cucumbers stop growing and darken.

As the disease develops, cucumber root rot is manifested by a complex of symptoms:

• the roots change color to black-brown, soften, become slimy to the touch;
• a pronounced putrid smell comes from the soil;
• the base of the stem darkens and softens, or becomes “woody” and cracks.

Heavily damaged are unable to feed the plant, so the cucumbers die

How and how to treat root rot of cucumbers

Treatment of root rot of cucumbers will be effective only at an early stage of the development of the disease. With the development of the pathogen far advanced, the plants can no longer be saved. Affected specimens are dug up and burned, the substrate is disinfected.

Chemicals

The main advantages of chemicals for combating cucumber root rot are speed and high efficiency. However, they destroy not only the causative agent of the disease, but also the beneficial microflora. Most drugs are harmful to human health and fauna.

Previcur Energy

A chemical effective for the prevention and treatment of cucumber root rot in the open field and in the greenhouse. It contains two active components – suppressing the development of the fungus and destroying its spores. Also, the tool helps to strengthen the immunity of the plant, its speedy recovery after infection with root rot. The effect of the treatment lasts for 12-15 days; cucumbers should not be fed for two days after it.

A maximum of five treatments of cucumbers from root rot with Previkur Energy are allowed per season.

Fundazole

The benomyl contained in it is detrimental not only to the causative agent of cucumber root rot, but also to any fungus. The drug is highly toxic, when working with it, you must strictly follow the instructions, use personal protective equipment, excluding the possibility of contact with the skin and mucous membranes. To cope with the root rot of cucumbers, one treatment is enough.

Fundazol is not suitable for the prevention of cucumber root rot – after 2-3 treatments, the pathogen becomes resistant to it

Autumn

Suitable for preplant seed treatment of cucumbers, prevention of root rot and other fungal diseases, their control at an early stage of development. Refers to contact-type preparations – it destroys only the pathogen and its spores, which it directly “touches”.

After processing the beds with cucumbers by Tiram, the root rot fungus dies within 1,5-2 days

Biological preparations for root rot

Biologics are less toxic than chemicals. “Suppressing” the activity of the causative agent of root rot of cucumbers, they do not “inhibit” the beneficial microflora. Means do not accumulate in tissues, therefore they are safe for humans.

Pseudobacterin

Contains bacteria that prevent the growth of the root rot pathogen of cucumbers. At the same time, it is a biostimulant that strengthens the immunity of plants. Available in powder or liquid form.

Pseudobacterin is suitable for seed treatment and root soaking of cucumber seedlings

Phytosporin

It contains hay bacillus, which, after spraying cucumbers, quickly spreads in tissues and begins to “parasite” on mycelium and root rot spores, destroying them by “inhibiting” protein synthesis. The drug should not be abused, the pathogen is able to develop immunity to it.

Phytosporin is the most popular biological product among gardeners against root rot of cucumbers.

Gliokladin

Available in the form of tablets that must be applied to the soil before planting cucumbers. It inhibits the development of not only the causative agent of root rot, but also other pathogenic fungi. They are unable to develop immunity to it.

Glyocladin helps to restore the microflora useful for plants in the soil and remove “toxins” from it.

Folk remedies for root rot of cucumbers

Such “medicines” for root rot of cucumbers are useful only for the prevention of the disease. Gardeners recommend using:

1. Sifted wood ash. It is used “in its pure form”, dusting the soil in the garden and the base of the stems of cucumbers, or preparing an infusion.
2. Kefir or whey with the addition of iodine. The dairy product is diluted with water 1:9, 3-4 drops of iodine are poured into each liter of solution.
3. Baking soda or soda ash. For 10 liters of water take 40-50 g of soda. The beds are first watered with ordinary water, then with a solution, avoiding it getting on the cucumbers themselves.

Wood ash not only prevents root rot infection of cucumbers, but is also a natural source of phosphorus and potassium.

preventive measures

The specificity of the development of root rot makes it difficult to treat cucumbers infected with the fungus. Therefore, it is recommended to pay regular attention to the prevention of its development.

seed Processing

Before planting, cucumber seeds are treated with a solution of any biofungicide to prevent the development of root rot. Processing takes a maximum of 15-20 minutes.

A similar antifungal effect will give a bright pink solution of potassium permanganate, but the soak time will increase to 1,5-2 hours

Soil preparation

If cucumbers are grown by seedlings, the soil in which the seeds are planted must be disinfected. It can be frozen in the winter on the street, calcined in the oven, spilled with a solution of any biofungicide or potassium permanganate.

Soil preparation in the garden for the prevention of root rot includes the removal of all plant and other debris, digging. Further disinfection with the same preparations is necessary.

Care of the greenhouse

Cucumbers grown in a greenhouse suffer from root rot more often than when planted in open ground. To minimize the risk of developing a pathogen, you need to:

1. Carefully remove plant debris.
2. Every autumn, wipe all wooden or metal parts with a 3% solution of copper sulphate or Bordeaux mixture. Wash glass or polycarbonate with laundry soap.
3. With the doors tightly closed, burn a piece of sulfur checker inside.

The soil in the greenhouse for planting cucumbers for the next season is prepared in the same way as in an open garden. Some gardeners prefer to change the soil in the greenhouse completely, but this is a very laborious process.

Sulfur checker destroys not only pathogenic microflora, but also eggs, pest larvae

Proper fit and care

The best prevention of root rot on cucumbers is competent agricultural technology and taking into account the “requirements” of the plant for the landing site:

1. Ensuring good lighting and access to fresh air.
2. Placement per 1 m² maximum of 3-4 cucumber bushes.
3. Maintaining a constant humidity in the greenhouse no higher than 70-80%, its regular ventilation.
4. Watering plants with exceptionally soft and warm water.
5. Substrate moisture control.
6. Application of fertilizers necessary for cucumbers at this stage of development and in the required proportion.
7. Regular shallow loosening and mulching of the soil.

“Crowding” in the garden deprives cucumbers of light, fresh air and sufficient nutrition

Cucumber varieties resistant to root rot

There are no varieties of cucumbers that are resistant solely to root rot. As a rule, it comes “complete” with immunity to other fungal diseases.

German F1

Self-pollinated early ripe high-yielding hybrid. Suitable for planting outdoors and in greenhouses. Gherkin fruits are very dense and crispy, the absence of bitterness is genetically inherent. The hybrid is resistant to root rot, powdery mildew, various types of mosaic virus.

Herman F1 cucumbers are valued by gardeners for their compactness due to the small number of lateral shoots.

Courage

Ultra-early self-pollinating variety with a bouquet type of fruiting. Bushes are relatively compact. Cucumbers are one-dimensional, universal purpose, distinguished by keeping quality. The variety is resistant to peronosporosis and root rot.

All flowers on cucumber bushes Courage are female; this leads to high productivity

An ant

Mid-early variety, suitable for open and closed ground. Bushes are tall, densely leafy. The type of fruiting is bouquet, flowering is female. Cucumbers are resistant to root rot, olive blotch, powdery mildew.

Lack of goosebump cucumbers – tolerance to downy mildew

Conclusion

Preparations for root rot of cucumbers of chemical and biological origin are the main means for combating the disease and its prevention. To prevent infection, folk remedies will be useful. Equally important is the observance of the basic rules for caring for a crop – this is also an effective prevention. In advanced cases, root rot cannot be treated, the fungus can destroy up to 80-90% of the cucumber crop.