Causes of Cucumber Head Rot and the Latest Control Methods Explained in Detail

Cucumber is a common vegetable with beauty-enhancing and skin-care benefits, and it is deeply loved by people. However, head rot is a common disease during cucumber cultivation, and it can seriously affect cucumber yield. So what causes cucumber head rot? How should it be controlled? Let us learn about it together.

1. Gummy stem blight

Gummy stem blight mainly harms the stems and vines, and can also harm leaves and fruits. When the disease occurs, oily-looking lesions appear on the affected parts, oval or diamond-shaped, and they split lengthwise after drying. After leaves are infected, the disease often starts from the leaf margins, forming yellow-brown “V”-shaped lesions densely covered with small black spots, which easily rupture after drying. If fruits are infected at the young fruit stage, the flesh softens and oozes pus.

Control method: Gummy stem blight can be controlled by spraying. Commonly used chemicals include Baikeduo, Baitai, and thiophanate-methyl, and all of these can treat gummy stem blight.

2. Scab

Scab mainly harms the growing points of cucumber, and it develops quickly. Within a few days, the normal young leaves can wither. After the disease occurs, star-shaped holes appear on the leaves, the lesions on the stems crack, and gummy material often flows out. Transparent gelatinous material also flows out on the fruit, later becoming scab-like. When humidity is high, black mold layers grow on the lesions.

Control method: This disease is a low-temperature and high-humidity disease, so insulation measures should be taken during cultivation, and humidity should also be watched. Diseased plants should be removed promptly, taken outside the greenhouse, and burned. In the early stage of the disease, carbendazim, thiophanate-methyl, or mancozeb can be sprayed for control. When spraying, do not miss the growing points.

3. Bacterial marginal blight

This disease is prone to occur in low-temperature seasons and causes cucumber head rot. After infection by the pathogen, it invades from the edges of new leaves, causing dry and withered leaf margins, curved and wrinkled veins, and curled leaves.

Control method: Agricultural streptomycin and copper hydroxide can be sprayed for control, once every 5-7 days, for 3-4 consecutive sprays.

4. Calcium deficiency

Calcium deficiency can also cause cucumber head rot. When cucumber lacks calcium, the young leaves are highly prone to disease, top growth is hindered, leaves turn yellow and curl, the top leaves become smaller, stunting symptoms appear, and leaves and vines turn brown and die. If low temperature and insufficient light occur, followed by sudden clearing and high temperature, the leaves near the growing points curl and die. They appear umbrella-like, the areas between veins of upper leaves turn yellow, the leaves become smaller, and the roots die.

Control method: Calcium fertilizer is an inert element. To improve the absorption rate of calcium fertilizer, it is necessary to start by improving the root system, appropriately increasing soil moisture, and promoting calcium absorption. In the middle and late stages of growth, foliar fertilizer can be used to provide sufficient calcium fertilizer for plant growth.

The above is an introduction to the causes of cucumber head rot and control methods. We hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.