Effectiveness of Some Biological and Chemical Fungicides to Control Powdery Mildew in Zucchini

Öz

Powdery mildew is one of the most devastating diseases affecting zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.), leading to substantial economic losses by reducing plant vigor, yield, and fruit quality in open-field cultivation. The primary causal agents are Erysiphe cichoracearum and Podosphaera xanthii (syn. Sphaerotheca fuliginea) common pathogens of cucurbit crops. Traditional management has relied heavily on chemical fungicides, however, their continuous use has led to the development of resistance, environmental pollution and health concerns regarding pesticide residues. Therefore, the search of safe and sustainable alternatives has become a priority for integrated disease management. The objective of the current research was to determine the efficacy of three chemical fungicides (Baymert, Heros, and Pancho) and two biological control agents (Trichoderma sp. and Penicillium sp.) to decrease infections of powdery mildew and to enhance the yield of zucchini under field conditions in Jisr al-Shughur, Syria, during the 2024 season. E. cichoracearum and P. xanthii were artificially inoculated into plants and disease severity was evaluated 3, 7 and 12 days after treatment. Findings indicated that powdery mildew had a quick initial control with the use of chemical fungicides. Three days later, Heros recorded a control efficiency of 56.2%, after spraying. However, they were not effective over time, especially in the case of Pancho, which had reduced to only 18.1% control by day 12. Conversely, biological control agents proved to act later but to have lasting effects. Trichoderma sp. recorded the highest control efficiency among the biological treatments at 55.4% after 12 days and produced the highest vegetative yield, reaching 116.8 g/plant after 15 days, compared with 29.5 g/plant in the untreated control. The second-best performer in terms of vegetative yield (89.6 g/plant) was Heros, and Penicillium sp. gave moderate but consistent control. Such results are in line with the fact that chemical fungicides are only capable of short-term suppression, but they do not persist effectively in the field. Biological control agents, specifically Trichoderma sp, are a better long-term solution, with long-term disease control and increased growth of plants and yield advantages. The research highlights the importance of the inclusion of biological control as an idea in sustainable powdery mildew management measures in zucchini production in reducing the usage of synthetic fungicides and in making agricultural systems safer and cleaner.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Trichoderma
• Penicillium
• Fungicides
• Powdery mildew
• Zucchini

Destekleyen Kurum

Idlib Unıversity

Etik Beyan

There was no need to obtain permission from an ethics committee for this study.

Teşekkür

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to Engineers Abdul Rahman Talib and Mohammed Kabi for their tremendous efforts and active participation in carrying out the research work.

Kabakgillerde Küllemeyi Kontrol Altına Almak İçin Bazı Biyolojik ve Kimyasal Fungisitlerin Etkinliği

Öz

Külleme, açık alan yetiştiriciliğinde bitki gelişimini, verimi ve meyve kalitesini düşürerek önemli ekonomik kayıplara yol açan, kabakta (Cucurbita pepo L.) en tahrip edici hastalıklardan biridir. Başlıca etmenler, kabakgil ürünlerinin yaygın patojenleri olan Erysiphe cichoracearum ve Podosphaera xanthii’dir (syn. Sphaerotheca fuliginea). Geleneksel mücadele çoğunlukla kimyasal fungisitlere dayanmaktadır; ancak bunların sürekli kullanımı direnç gelişmesine, çevre kirliliğine ve pestisit kalıntılarına ilişkin sağlık sorunlarına yol açmıştır. Bu nedenle, güvenli ve sürdürülebilir alternatiflerin aranması entegre hastalık yönetimi için bir öncelik haline gelmiştir. Bu araştırmanın amacı, Suriye'nin Cisr eş-Şuğur bölgesinde 2024 sezonunda tarla koşulları altında, üç kimyasal fungisitin (Baymert, Heros ve Pancho) ve iki biyolojik mücadele etmeninin (Trichoderma sp. ve Penicillium sp.) külleme enfeksiyonlarını azaltma ve kabak verimini artırma üzerindeki etkisini belirlemektir. E. cichoracearum ve P. xanthii bitkilere yapay olarak inoküle edilmiş ve hastalık şiddeti uygulamadan 3, 7 ve 12 gün sonra değerlendirilmiştir. Bulgular, küllemenin kimyasal fungisitlerin kullanımıyla hızlı bir başlangıç kontrolüne sahip olduğunu göstermiştir. Püskürtmeden üç gün sonra Heros, %56,2'lik bir kontrol etkinliği kaydetmiştir. Ancak kimyasallar zamanla etkilerini kaybetmiştir; özellikle Pancho'nun kontrol etkinliği 12. güne gelindiğinde %18,1'e düşmüştür. Aksine, biyolojik mücadele etmenlerinin daha geç etki gösterdiği ancak kalıcı etkilere sahip olduğu kanıtlanmıştır. Trichoderma sp., 12 gün sonra biyolojik uygulamalar arasında %55,4 ile en yüksek kontrol etkinliğini kaydetmiş ve 15 gün sonra, kontrol grubundaki 29,5 g/bitki değerine kıyasla 116,8 g/bitki ile en yüksek vejetatif verimi üretmiştir. Vejetatif verim açısından en iyi performans gösteren ikinci uygulama Heros (89,6 g/bitki) olmuş, Penicillium sp. ise orta düzeyde ancak istikrarlı bir kontrol sağlamıştır. Bu sonuçlar, kimyasal fungisitlerin yalnızca kısa süreli baskılama yeteneğine sahip olduğu, ancak tarlada etkili bir şekilde kalıcılık göstermediği gerçeğiyle örtüşmektedir. Biyolojik mücadele etmenleri, özellikle de Trichoderma sp., uzun süreli hastalık kontrolü, artan bitki büyümesi ve verim avantajları ile daha iyi bir uzun vadeli çözümdür. Araştırma, sentetik fungisitlerin kullanımını azaltmak ve tarımsal sistemleri daha güvenli ve temiz hale getirmek için kabak üretiminde sürdürülebilir külleme yönetim tedbirlerine biyolojik mücadelenin dahil edilmesinin önemini vurgulamaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Trichoderma
• Penicillium
• Fungisitler
• Külleme hastalığı
• Kabak

Destekleyen Kurum

Idlib Unıversity

Etik Beyan

There was no need to obtain permission from an ethics committee for this study.

Teşekkür

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to Engineers Abdul Rahman Talib and Mohammed Kabi for their tremendous efforts and active participation in carrying out the research work.

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