Suppression of cucumber powdery mildew Sphaerotheca fuliginea by foliar sprays of pbospbate and potassium salts

Powdery mildew, caused by Sphaerotheca fuliginea, was significantly controlled by a single spray of aqueous solutions (25 mm) containing various phosphates and potassium salts. Phosphates were suppressive when applied alone; however, treatments in combination with Tween‐20 were more effective in causing the disappearance of powdery mildew pustules from diseased foliage. Efficiency of control, as expressed by the disappearance of 99% of pustules, was recorded 1 or 2 days after application of single sprays of phosphate and potassium salt solutions. Treatment was effective for up to 12 or 15 days, respectively, following application to small or large greenhouse‐grown plants with established mildew infection. Treatments also markedly reduced (> 99%) the production of eonidia from colonies. A further application of these salts to the same plants resulted in the elimination of about 50% of mildew colonies present prior to the application. Further spray application inhibited disease development compared with water‐sprayed plants, but did not reduce the number of existing lesions. Phosphate was more effective than the systemic fungicide pyrifenox and reduced established powdery mildew infection up to 11 days after application, but the converse was true when assessments were made after 15 days. These properties of phosphates and potassium salts make them appropriate for use as foliar fertilizers with a potential beneficial influence on disease control.