Cucumber mosaic: signs of disease and treatment methods
Good day. Please help me in my trouble. I live in Norilsk. I planted indoor cucumbers this year, they sprouted well, began to grow, but after the appearance of 4 leaves, spots appeared. I read many articles on the internet, but did not understand what I got sick with. Help me please. What can I do to cure my cucumbers?Judging by the photo of the cucumber leaf, the disease looks very much like a white mosaic in appearance. It is a viral infection that affects many crops both outdoors and in greenhouse (or indoor) conditions.
White cucumber mosaic is the most harmful of all types of mosaics and one of the most resistant to treatment. The virus is difficult to kill, since it has the ability to persist for a long time in the soil, in plant debris and even on tools. In addition, the mosaic also affects plant seeds, retaining its activity for 2-3 years. But even after this time, a certain level of infection still remains.
Related article: cucumber disease with leaf photo.
Cucumber mosaic treatment methods
First of all, it is necessary to urgently separate diseased plants from the rest, in order to prevent further spread of the infection. Remove the affected leaves and treat the cucumbers with Aktelikt or Aktara.
Tools that were used to care for diseased plants must be thoroughly disinfected in a solution of potassium permanganate.
Folk remedies, such as spraying, also have a slowing effect on the development of the disease:
- low-fat milk (10%);
- milk-iodine solution (10% milk and 0.1% iodine);
- dandelion tincture;
- decoction of onion peel;
- tincture of tobacco;
- weak garlic infusion.
The causes of the disease
A favorable environment for the manifestation of the mosaic of cucumbers grown in greenhouse (indoor) conditions is:
- Increased room temperature (more than 25 degrees Celsius).
- Sharp fluctuations in temperature.
The disease quickly spreads to all plantings and in a short time can destroy them.
Cucumber mosaic is transmitted:
- through infected seeds;
- through contaminated soil or weeds;
- through the inventory with which the infected plants were treated;
- with the help of pests, in particular aphids.
Characteristic signs of the disease
Cucumber mosaic most often appears at the "young age" of the plant and affects the leafy plate of cucumbers. Young leaves are covered with white or yellow spots, which gradually increase in scale and completely color the leaf, leaving only the veins green. However, the virus can and will linger until the time when the cucumbers begin to bear fruit.