Identification and control the causal agent of root rot disease of cucumber in Iraq

Abstract

This study aimed to isolate the causal agent of the root rot disease of cucumber and control it biologically. Samples were collected in the cucumber fields in the Diyala and Saladin governorates of Iraq. Isolation test demonstrated associate fungi belong to the twelve geniuses. Fusarium solani exhibited highly percentage of appearance of 82.15% with frequency 54.00%. Seventy-seven isolates identified as F. solani according to their cultural and morphological characteristics while sixty-five isolates of them amplified successfully with specific primer of Fusarium spp using PCR technique. Isolate DF13 was most virulent isolated while exhibited 0% cucumber seed germination in vitro. The bio-agent Bacillus pumilus demonstrated significant inhibition ability against the fungal isolate DF13 in vitro of 100%. Under greenhouse condition B. pumilus decreased the disease incidence and severity to 30.55% and 20.75% respectively compared to the negative control which was 80.50%, 55.00% respectively.

Isolation and Identification of Cucumber Root Rot-Associated Fungi and Assessment of Their Pathogenicity

“…Additionally, it was found that the fungus R. solani causes seed rot, pre-and post-emergence damping-off, and cucumber root rot [5]. Cucumber root rot disease has been observed in Diyala and Salah al-Din provinces, where twelve genera were isolated, including the fungi F. oxysporum, F. solani, and M .phaseolina [11]. Several studies have indicated that fungal soil inhabitants infect various crops, including corn, watermelon, cotton, strawberry, sesame, ornamental plants, tomato, eggplant, and others [12][13][14][15][16][17][18].…”