Biological Control of the Cucumber Downy Mildew Pathogen Pseudoperonospora cubensis

Abstract

Cucumber downy mildew (CDM) is a destructive plant disease caused by the air-borne oomycete pathogen Pseudoperonospora cubensis. CDM causes severe yield reduction of cucumber and significant economic losses. Biocontrol is a promising method to control CDM with the advantage of being beneficial to sustainable agricultural development. However, until now, no reviews of biocontrol of CDM have been reported. The objective of this review is to more comprehensively understand the biocontrol of CDM. In this review, the biological characteristics of P. cubensis are introduced, and strategies for screening biocontrol agents to suppress CDM are recommended. Then the current biocontrol agents, including fungi such as Trichoderma and biocontrol bacteria such as Bacillus, which possess the ability to control CDM, and their control characteristics and ability against CDM are also summarized. The potential mechanisms by which these biocontrol agents prevent CDM are discussed. Finally, several suggestions for future research on the biocontrol of CDM are provided.