Susceptibility of Zucchini Cultivars to Powdery Mildew (Podosphaera xanthii) under High and Low Nitrogen Regimes

Abstract

Powdery mildew, primarily caused by Podosphaera xanthii, threatens cucurbit crop yield and longevity. Fungicides and resistant cultivars cannot fully manage or prevent the disease. Previous work has shown that powdery mildew incidence and severity can increase under high soil nitrogen. This study was conducted in Kentucky to determine disease severity and yield using a split plot design with nitrogen fertility (high: 140 kg/ha, low: 84 kg/ha) and zucchini cultivar (Cash Machine, Cue Ball, Desert, Dunja, Eight Ball, Emerald Delight, Golden Glory, Mexicana, and Spineless Perfection) as the main plot and subplot factors, respectively. In year one, powdery mildew severity was significantly higher in high soil nitrogen and varied significantly among cultivars. Yield was significantly lower in high soil nitrogen. Significant differences in fruit count, but not fruit weight, were observed among the cultivars. In year two, nitrogen did not significantly affect disease severity, but fruit weight and count were significantly lower in the high soil nitrogen treatment. ‘Golden Glory’ had significantly higher powdery mildew severity while ‘Mexicana’ and ‘Eight Ball’ had significantly lower severity compared to all other cultivars. Spineless Perfection had the highest fruit weight and was significantly higher than all other cultivars except for Cue Ball and Eight Ball. ‘Golden Glory’ had the highest fruit count and was significantly higher than all others except for ‘Dunja’. Nitrogen did not consistently affect disease severity throughout the study. The effects of powdery mildew on yield should be explored further, as heavily diseased plants did not always have low yield.