Bacterial wilt is most common during warm, humid weather, especially following rain or heavy irrigation. It primarily occurs in cucumber plants during the early vegetative and flowering stages.
This bacterial wilt is mainly spread by cucumber beetles and can result in wilting and collapse of the cucumber plant, leading to yield loss of up to 75% if not addressed in the early stages.
Damage Symptoms:
Leaves wilt during the day but recover at night.
Permanent wilting develops as the disease progresses, leading to plant death within a few days.
Infected stems are typically characterized by a slimy bacterial ooze, which becomes noticeable when the stem is cut.
Eventually, the stem and leaves dry out, killing the plant.
Preventive Measures:
Crop rotation using non-host crops such as cereals or legumes can help reduce the incidence of the disease.
Control Measures:
Spray imidacloprid at 0.4 ml/l or spinosad at 0.5 ml/l to control the infestation of cucumber beetles.
Remove and destroy infested plants to prevent bacterial multiplication.
