Disease detected on cukes in Saginaw County: Several counties have positive cucurbit downy mildew spores in air samples

Mary Hausbeck<hausbec1@msu.edu>, Michigan State University Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences -

All Michigan cucumber and melon growers should employ effective downy mildew fungicides immediately.

Downy mildew symptoms on cucumber plants.
Photos 1, 2. Early symptoms of downy mildew on cucumber with the yellow-brown tissue bordered by the leaf veins. Photos 3, 4. The dark spores of the cucumber downy mildew pathogen can be seen on the underside of the leaf. These spores move via air currents and infect unprotected plants. Photos by David Perla, MSU.

The first symptoms of cucurbit downy mildew disease on pickling cucumber plants in a commercial production field has been verified by our lab in Saginaw County this afternoon, July 19, 2023. The statewide spore trapping network to detect downy mildew spores in the air has had positives for Bay, Allegan, Monroe, Saginaw and Berrien counties. These results have been confirmed by qPCR. This indicates an influx of downy mildew sporangia in the state at a statewide level.

Our Downy Mildew News website is updated with the latest results of confirmed positives for field disease and spore trap air samples. The results from the spore traps are a few days behind due to processing of the spore tapes. We are able to distinguish between cucumber and hop downy mildew spores using molecular tools and both are reported. Visit the Downy Mildew News website for spore trap results and current downy mildew news.

I believe that our delayed downy mildew development in the state is the result of the high temperatures and dry conditions we have experienced. Since the cucurbit downy mildew pathogen (Pseudoperonospora cubensis) prefers cooler temperatures, the current temperatures which are now more moderate, along with the recent rains, has set the stage for a rapid escalation of the disease in the state if fungicide sprays are delayed.

Suspect samples should be submitted for a diagnosis. See instructions on how to submit samples.

Close up of underside of leaf.
Photo 5. A closeup of the underside of the leaf with the dark mold of the downy mildew pathogen. Photo by David Perla, MSU.
Spores under a microscope.
Photo 6. Under the microscope, the individual lemon-shaped sporangia (spores) can be seen. Photo by David Perla, MSU.

It is very important that cucumber growers use proven downy mildew fungicides (shown below in alphabetical order). These fungicides were effective in our 2022 research field plots and include:

  • Elumin + chlorothalonil or mancozeb
  • Omega (Orbus) + chlorothalonil or mancozeb
  • *Orondis Opti (Chlorothalonil is part of the premix, additional chlorothalonil is suggested. See label for maximum chlorothalonil rates.)
  • Previcur Flex + chlorothalonil or mancozeb
  • *Ranman + chlorothalonil or mancozeb
  • Zampro + chlorothalonil or mancozeb

* Across many years of field tests, Orondis Opti and Ranman have been the leading fungicides in cucurbit downy mildew control in Michigan and would be especially recommended given the positive downy mildew air samples detected across the state and the positive disease sample from Saginaw County.

Fungicides should be alternated so that resistance of the pathogen to the fungicide’s active ingredient does not develop. It is important that the fungicides be applied prior to plant infection. Waiting until downy mildew has developed in the field prior to applying fungicides can lead to control failure and pathogen resistance. In many parts of the state, the second pickling cucumber crop has now been or soon will be planted. Downy mildew can infect the cotyledons of cucumbers and has been observed in previous years for late season plantings.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

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