Anthracnose shows up as dark, sunken spots on cucumber leaves, stems and fruit, spreading through splashing water and humid weather. Two fungicide options are confirmed for controlling it on cucumber, each working a little differently. Here's how to tell them apart and which product to reach for.
How to Spot It
Look for dark, water-soaked spots on the leaves that enlarge and turn brown with age, often with a yellow halo around the edge. On the fruit, the spots sink inward and can develop a pinkish spore mass at the centre in humid conditions. Stems can also show dark, elongated lesions. It spreads fastest when rain or overhead irrigation splashes spores from leaf to leaf, and thrives in warm, humid weather with poor airflow between vines.
Solutions to Stop Anthracnose in Cucumber
1. Copper Sulphate 47.15% + Mancozeb 30% WDG
A copper-based contact fungicide that forms a protective coating on the plant surface, stopping spores from germinating before infection begins. Best applied early and repeated through wet spells, as a preventive barrier against new infection.
Product Recommendation
2. Azoxystrobin 4.7% + Mancozeb 59.7% + Tebuconazole 5.6% WG
A three-way mix combining a systemic strobilurin and a triazole with a contact fungicide, reaching the fungus both on the surface and inside the plant tissue. Best used once anthracnose has already appeared, or where downy mildew and powdery mildew are also present, since it covers all three.
Product Recommendation
Note: Along with a timely spray, space plants for better airflow, and remove infected leaves and fruit rather than leaving them in the field. Crop debris left behind after harvest is one of the main ways the fungus survives to infect the next planting.
Disclaimer: Always confirm current label registration, approved dosage, water volume, and pre-harvest interval (PHI) for your state before using any product - labels are periodically revised by regulatory authorities.
This guide is a general advisory. Do your own research and verification before using any product. Always confirm suitability for your crop stage, region, and field conditions before making any purchase, spray, or crop-management decision.
