Management of Fusarium fruit rot of Luffa cylindrical caused by Fusarium incarnatum and Fusarium chlamydosporum

Fusarium rot of Luffa cylindrical was detected at Kafr-El-Dawar province, Beheira governorate, North Egypt during the growing season 2021. Surveyed disease incidence at Beheira, Kafr El-Shekh and Sharkia governorate showed fruit rot incidences of 18.33%, 16.12%, and 12.42%, respectively. Two fungal isolates of Fusarium spp. were tested for their pathogenic ability to induce Fusarium rot disease and typical disease symptoms. The online Basic Local Alignment Search Tool for Nucleotide Sequences (BLASTN) was used for identification and confirmation of identity performance of Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) and DNA sequencing, then compared with sequences available in GenBank. The two fungal isolates were identified as Fusarium incarnatum and Fusarium chlamydosporum and registered under accession number MN480497 and MN480498, respectively. Under laboratory conditions, organic acids, essential oils and organic salts significantly inhibited the growth of the two fungal isolates. Complete inhibition of fungal growth (100%) was recorded at 0.75 g/l of Topsin-M70 (Thiophanate-methyl) and 0.5% of salicylic acid. Meanwhile, a moderate growth reduction was observed using benzoic acid, coumarine, and cinnamon, thyme oil and garlic oil treatments. Under field conditions for two successive seasons, similar trends were observed. Foliar sprays with the fungicide Topsin-M70 showed the largest reduction in disease expression. The highest fruit rot disease reduction was recorded for salicylic acid and coumarin treatments followed by thyme oil, benzoic acid and potassium carbonate, garlic oil, boric acid and sodium bicarbonate. We concluded that the treatments are effective, safe and cost-effective methods for the control of this pre-harvest fruit disease under field conditions.