Application of Chitosan/Hydroquinone Nanaoemulsions for Management Root Rot Disease on Cucumber Plants in Plastic Houses

Root rot is an epidemic fungal disease in cucumber caused by soil borne fungi of Fusarium spp., significantly reducing numbers of plants, vegetative growth and fruit yield during growing in plastic houses. Several nanoemulsions of chitosan alone and chitosan loaded with hydroquinone, sorbic acid, or propionic acid were prepared, characterized and tested in vitro against mycelial linear growth, condial sporulation and pathogenic potential of the fungal isolates, i.e. Fusarium oxysporum (MG018778) and Fusarium solani (MG018781) on cucumber. These nanoemulsions were also evaluated in greenhouse as soil drench for their effect on root rot incidence in cucumber plants, vegetative growth and fruit yield. Results in vitro indicated that nanaoemulsion of chitosan/hydroquinone was more effective than the other tested nanaoemulsions, with high efficacy against morphological characters tested of fungal isolates. Moreover, application of the chitosan/hydroquinone nanoemulsion, with 122.8 nm drop size, by the rate 0. 5 % as soil drench on transplanting's before cultivation and in combination with soil drench 30 days after plants cultivation in plastic house s was significantly suppressive root rot incidence on cucumber plants, increased survival plant, plant height, fresh weight and fruits yield of cucumber plants. Therefore, the nanoemulsion of chitosan/hydroquinone is an effective eco-friendly agent alternative fungicide for controlling root rot on cucumber cultivation.