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Andy Wyenandt
Cucurbit downy mildew has been reported on cucumber and butternut squash in southern New Jersey.
This is the first report of CDM this growing season in the state. All cucurbit fields need to be
scouted on a daily basis and preventative fungicide programs need to be initiated.
In 2004, cucurbit downy mildew re-emerged in the US with a vengeance causing significant losses
in cucurbit production. In most years prior to this, concern for CDM control was minimal, since the
pathogen arrived late in the growing season (in more northern regions), or the pathogen caused little
damage, or never appeared. After 2004, with significant losses at stake, and with very few fungicides
labeled for its proper control, CDM became a serious threat to cucurbit production. Importantly, at the
time, cucumber varieties with very good levels of CDM resistance were no longer resistant, suggesting
a major shift in the pathogen population. Research done over the past 19 years has led to a better
understanding of the pathogen. Recent research has determined that the CDM falls into two separate
clades: Clade I and Clade II.
Some CDM (Pseudoperonospora cubensis) isolates fall into Clade I which predominately
infect watermelon, pumpkin, and squash, where CDM isolates in Clade II predominately infect
cucumber and cantaloupe. Research suggests that isolates in Clade II can quickly become
resistant to specific fungicides (NCSU). Most cucumber varieties are resistant to Clade 1 isolates,
but there is no resistance currently available for Clade 2 isolates. For pickling cucumber the varieties,
Citadel and Peacemaker, are tolerant to clade 2 isolates. For slicing cucumbers, the varieties
SV3462CS and SV4142CL are tolerant to Clade 2 isolates. All organic and greenhouse growers are
encouraged to use tolerant varieties since chemical control options are very limited (NCSU). For the
past decade, researchers from around the US have been closely monitoring and forecasting the progress
of CDM through a website hosted by NCSU. The address for the monitoring network is
https://cdm.ipmpipe.org. All cucurbit growers are encouraged to sign up to the CDMpipe website to
help them know what cucurbit crops are being infected (and where) and to follow the forecasting to
know where the pathogen may move to next. As a note, in recent years, CDM control with certain
fungicides has varied significantly depending on the cucurbit host and geographic region. This is
extremely important since two clades of the pathogen are potentially present (affecting host range) as
well as having a potential impact on control strategies. How do you know which clade may be present
on your farm? Follow the reports. If CDM is mostly present in cucumber crops as it works its way up
the east coast, then you are most likely to see it infect cucumber and cantaloupe on your farm first.
Scout your fields regularly, especially if CDM is in the immediate region. Pay very close attention to
symptom development and on what cucurbit crop(s) you see it on, this is especially important if you
grow more than one cucurbit crop. Like cucurbit powdery mildew, once CDM arrives in the region preventative fungicide applications are necessary.
Fungicides for CDM control
Loss of efficacy in the control of CDM has also been documented in FRAC code 4 (mefenoxam),
FRAC code 11 fungicides (azoxystrobin), FRAC code 28 (propamocarb HCL), and FRAC code 43
(fluopicolide) in the mid-Atlantic region and elsewhere. Insensitivity to fluopicolide (43) and propamocarb HCL (28) have been reported in multiple states (Thomas et al., 2018). In some cases, individual isolates of CDM were insensitive to both chemistries. Recent research in Michigan in a three year field study using pickling cucumber determined that cyazofamid (21), (ametoctradin, 45 + dimethomorph, 40), (zoxamide, 22 + mancozeb, M03), mancozeb (M03); chlorothalonil (M05), and oxathiapiprolin (49) alone or in a premix provided the best level of control (Goldenhar & Hausbeck, 2019).
In a recent study evaluating different fungicide chemistries in field trials done in different states (OH,
NY, & SC) determined that propamocarb HCL (28), cymoxanil + famoxadone (27 + 11), and fluopicolide
(43) were ineffective in 1 or 2 states during both years of the trial (Keinath, Miller, & Smart,
2019). In one year of the study, famoxadone (11), dimethomorph (40), cymoxanil (21), and mancozeb
(M03) were ineffective for CDM control (Keinath, Miller, & Smart, 2019). In bioassay studies done
during this trial, cyazofamid (21), oxathiapiprolin (49) suppressed CDM >80%.
Most fungicides labeled for the control of CDM are at-risk for resistance development because of the
specific modes of action. These include Ranman (cyazofamid, FRAC code 21), Gavel (zoxamide, 22
mancozeb, M03), Zing! (zoxamide, 22 + chlorothalonil, M05); Curzate (cymoxanil, 27), Previcur Flex
(propamocarb HCL, 28), Forum/Revus (dimethomorph, 40), Zampro (ametoctradin, 45 + dimethomorph, 40), Orondis Opti (oxathiapiprolin, 49 + chlorothalonil, M05), and Orondis Ultra (oxathiapiprolin, 49 + mandipropamid, 40). Importantly, just like with cucurbit powdery mildew control, there are a number of CDM fungicides with different modes of action from different FRAC codes to chose from. As noted in the paragraph above, the efficacy of individual fungicide chemistries may vary significantly by state or region. Thus, growers need to scout their cucurbit fields on a weekly basis, note the efficacy, or lack thereof, they are seeing in the field, and incorporate the use of as many different FRAC groups as possible to help mitigate fungicide resistance development.
Fungicide programs for CDM control
An example of a fungicide program for CDM control in the mid-Atlantic region might look like this,
where a CDM specific fungicide from a different FRAC group is used on weekly basis:
A – B – C – D – E where A= Gavel (zoxamide, 22 + mancozeb, M03); B= Orondis Opti (oxathiapiprolin,
49 + chlorothalonil, M05); C= Ranman (cyazofamid, FRAC code 21); D= Orondis Ultra (oxathiapiprolin,
49 + mandipropamid, 40); E= Curzate (cymoxanil, 27)
Not all of the fungicides listed above are labeled for all cucurbit crops. Some fungicides, such as the
Orondis products have limited number of applications. Growers will need to refer to local recommendations and the label for crop specifics. Remember, the label is the law.
A protectant fungicide such as chlorothalonil or mancozeb should be added (if not already included)
to the tank mix with each high-risk fungicide to reduce selection pressure and to help control other important diseases such as anthracnose and plectosporium blight. All growers should follow use recommendations on labels and avoid overusing one mode of action, even if it works well. If loss of efficacy is present, the grower should avoid using that particular fungicide (FRAC group) for CDM control the rest of the growing season.
Growers should remember that fungicides specifically labeled for CDM control won’t control CPM,
and fungicides labeled for CPM control won’t control CDM. Therefore, carefully following the disease
monitoring and forecasting website, choosing varieties with CDM resistance, paying close attention to
host crops, scouting fields on a regular basis, noting fungicide efficacy, and following proper fungicide
resistant management guidelines remain critically important for successful CDM control.
For more information on the specific fungicides recommended for CDM control on cucurbit crops
please see the 2026/2027 Mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations.
(https://njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs/publication.php?pid=E001)