Pseudoperonospora cubensis (Bert. et Curt) Rost. is the causal agent of cucurbit downy mildew (CDM). It is the most damaging cucumber pathogen on the Eastern Shore of Virginia and eastern parts of the United States. Pseudoperonospora cubensis is an obligate oomycete pathogen, infecting crops within the Cucurbitaceae family. The disease is characterized by angular chlorotic lesions and a downy or felt-like appearance on the abaxial side of the leaf. Control of this pathogen includes use of resistant cucumber cultivars and costly fungicide programs. Continuous use has led to resistance to commonly used fungicides. This has become a major concern and in response, seed companies have developed cucumber cultivars which claim downy mildew resistance.  This study evaluates different cucumber cultivars and assesses their level of resistance to CDM. The results indicate that an integrated management approach of reduced fungicide application and the use of resistant cultivars can suppress levels of CDM and yield a cucumber crop. Additionally, a molecular study was conducted, comparing the relative expression of genes encoding a basic PR-1 protein, a cytosolic ascorbate peroxidase protein and three resistance (R) gene proteins, in nineteen cultivars. All of the selected genes were analyzed using real-time PCR. The relative expression levels of the R-genes varied between cultivars. The basic PR-1 protein decreased expression in the majority of the cultivars, suggesting no involvement in the first twenty-four hours. Cytosolic ascorbate peroxidase relative expression levels suggest an increase in susceptible cultivars and a decrease in tolerant cultivars. / Master of Science

Le cucurbitacee possono essere attaccate da più di 200 malattie, una corretta gestione è dunque fondamentale per ridurre il rischio di perdite di produzione, sia in termini di quantità sia in termini di qualità. Tra le malattie più importanti che attaccano le cucurbitacee ci sono l’oidio e la peronospora delle cucurbitacee. Podosphaera xanthii e Golovinomyces cichoracearum sono gli agenti causali dell’oidio. È stato studiato l’effetto della temperature sulla germinazione dei conidi in ambiente controllato a 6 temperature costanti (da 10 a 35°C, ad intervalli di 5C°) da 3 a 72 ore. La temperature ottimale per la germinazone, l’infezione e la sporulazione è risultata essere rispettivamente 24.4, 25.7 e 21.3°C per P. xanthii e 17.9, 17.3 e 16.2°C per G. cichoracearum. Un modello meccanicistico è stato sviluppato per il rischio che i due agenti patogeni causassero un attacco di oidio. Il modello simula la germinazione su foglie infettate sulla base delle condizioni ambientali di temperatura e umidità relativa. Le equazioni che calcolano la germinazione delle dei conidi di entrambi i funghi sono state sviluppate sulla base di dati presenti in bibliografia. Un secondo modello meccanicistico è stato sviluppato per Pseudoperonospora cubensis, agente causale della peronospora delle cucurbitacee. Il modello calcola la data di comparsa dei sintomi e la probabilità del superamento di determinate soglie di gravità della malattia, sulla base di sotto-processi dell’infezione. Il passaggio da uno stato dell’infezione al successivo è dipendente dalle condizioni ambientali. Entrambi i modelli sono stati validati confrontando i dati ottenuti dai modelli con dati indipendenti rilevati in coltivazioni del nord Italia. / Cucurbits are potentially affected by more than 200 diseases of diverse etiologies, so a good disease management is crucial to reduce the risk of high yield losses in terms of quantity and quality. Among the more important diseases there are powdery and downy mildew. Podosphaera xanthii and Golovinomyces cichoracearum are the causal agents of cucurbit powdery mildew. The effect of temperature on conidial germination was studied in controlled condition at 6 constant temperature (from 10 to 35°C, step 5°C) for 3 to 72 hours. Optima temperature for conidial germination, infection and sporulation were 24.4, 25.7 and 21.3°C respectively for P. xanthii and 17.9, 17.3 and 16.2°C for G. cichoracearum. A mechanistic model was developed for the risk posed by P. xanthii and G. cichoracearum to cause cucurbit powdery mildew. The model simulates germination on infected leaves on the base of environmental conditions of temperature and relative humidity. Equation regulating spore germination of both fungi were developed using published data. Another mechanistic model was develop also for Pseudoperonospora cubensis, causal agent of cucurbit downy mildew. The model calculates the symptoms appearance and the probability of overtaking severity threshold based on sub-processes of infection. Changes from one state of the infection to the following one depend on environmental conditions. Both models were validated by comparing model outputs with independent data sets collected in fields located in the north of Italy.