Mosaic on cucumbers: what it is, causes, and treatment

Cucumbers

Cucumber mosaic virus is caused by aphids. Favorable conditions for it include temperatures above 25°C and sudden cold snaps at night. The greater the difference between day and night temperatures, the higher the risk of infection. Gardener errors can also trigger mosaic disease. Dirty equipment, the use of contaminated seed, the lack of preventative soil treatment, and an abundance of biological residues or weeds in the soil will jeopardize the future harvest.

Types of mosaics

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Tobacco cucumber mosaic disease very rarely affects cucumber crops. It is most often seen in gardeners growing sweet peppers. A characteristic marbled pattern forms on the leaf blade. After a few days, tobacco cucumber mosaic disease leads to leaf drop. Other types of viral diseases are also present.

Variety	Signs	Notes
Ordinary	It's common in greenhouses. Just look at the photos in reference books to see the main symptoms. Numerous small, round, white spots appear on the leaf blade.	After 1-2 weeks, the edges of leaves affected by common mosaic disease curl. There is no quick cure. The green elements are removed.
Green	The first signs are noticeable immediately after transplanting the fruits into the ground. The leaves gradually become swollen, with numerous light yellow spots forming on their surface.	The affected bush stops growing and the leaves fall off.
White	At the initial stage, no signs are noticeable on the leaves of planted cucumbers. Only upon closer inspection can one see spots with a pale yellow-white tint.	If no action is taken, the spots will become larger. Later, white cucumber mosaic will change the shape of the leaf blade.

In severe cases, several viral diseases can be found in the garden. For example, symptoms of green and white mosaic are visible on the leaves. The latter is called "CV2A virus." It is most often detected in greenhouses where seedlings are planted too closely. Gardeners should pay attention to the following signs:

Near the veins, barely blurred spots of white-yellow color are visible;
after 4-5 days the spots merge;
their color changes to white-green;
the leaf turns pale yellow or white.

After a week, the affected bush stops growing. There is no cure, so the only option is to remove it and burn it.

Note!

As soon as the first signs of the disease appear, the seedlings need to be treated. Not only the bush suffers, but the fruits as well. They change shape and then acquire a bitter taste.

Treatment of affected bushes

The harvest must be saved immediately after signs of the disease are detected. The goal is to localize the affected area. Shoots and leaves with traces of pathogen activity are immediately removed and then burned away from the garden beds. Storing contaminated biological waste is prohibited. Any tools used to remove the affected seedlings are discarded. If this is not possible, they should be boiled for 30 minutes. Afterwards, the tools are disinfected in a saturated solution of potassium permanganate.

Traditional methods

Viral mosaic on cucumber plants, which is effective in its early stages with folk remedies, can be stopped with a 10% solution of natural milk. Use a product with a minimal fat content. Apply the solution once every 12 hours for two weeks. Another method is to use mullein and urea. Prepare the solution as follows:

1 kg of mullein;
10 liters of water;
1 tablespoon of urea;
the mixture is brought to a homogeneous state.

Cucumbers are treated with a solution at a rate of 1.5 liters per square meter. If a gardener misses the onset of a viral disease, a more effective solution will be needed. Take concentrated whey and dilute it with water. The recommended ratio is 1:2. Up to two drops of iodine can be added to the mixture.

A more radical option is an infusion of dandelion, onion peel, and tobacco. You need 300 g of each ingredient. Place the listed ingredients in a container and add 1 liter of boiling water. Let the mixture steep for about 12 hours. Before use, dilute it with 5 liters of clean water. Consumption: 2 liters per square meter.

Note!

Folk remedies are of a supportive nature and do not replace traditional methods of combating mosaic.

Preventive measures

The infectious cucumber yellow mosaic virus is more difficult to treat than to prevent. The key is to inspect the seedlings. The first agricultural practice is to remove weeds near the planting site. Remove any biological residues or traces of the previous harvest. The second agricultural practice is to keep the area clear of debris. Other recommendations:

Regardless of the source of origin, the seed material must be pre-treated in a weak solution of potassium permanganate;
select seeds that are resistant to the pathogen;
compliance with crop rotation rules;
a plant with minor signs of disease must be immediately removed and burned;
the soil near the place where the damaged bush grew is immediately treated;
the area is regularly subjected to preventative treatment of the soil against aphids;
On the site, they monitor the stability of the temperature regime and the humidity level.