Cladosporium cucumerinum

Cladosporium cucumerinum is a fungal pathogen that primarily affects cucumber plants, but can also infect other members of the Cucurbitaceae family. It is the causative agent of a disease known as scab, which is characterized by the appearance of corky, scaly lesions on the fruit and leaves of the plant.

Taxonomy

The species belongs to the Cladosporium genus, which is part of the Davidellaceae family. The genus name Cladosporium comes from the Greek words klados, meaning branch, and spora, meaning seed, referring to the branched chains of spores that are characteristic of the genus.

Morphology

Cladosporium cucumerinum is a dematiaceous fungus, meaning it has darkly pigmented hyphae and spores. The spores are conidia, which are asexual and produced in chains. The conidia are oval in shape and have a smooth surface.

Pathogenicity

Cladosporium cucumerinum is a necrotrophic pathogen, meaning it kills the host tissue and then feeds on the dead material. The fungus enters the plant through natural openings or wounds, and then produces enzymes that break down the plant tissue.

Management

Management of Cladosporium cucumerinum involves a combination of cultural practices, such as crop rotation and sanitation, and the use of fungicides. Resistant cultivars are also available for some crops.

See also

• List of cucumber diseases
• Plant pathology