New Strategy for Managing Damping-off and Root Rot Disease of Cucumber Caused by Rhizoctonia solani by Seed Soaking in Formula of Antioxidant with Micronutrients

of R. solani can be remain viable in soil for several years as important source of primary infection, In our laboratory trails, The soaking of R. solani sclerotia in Potassium tartarate as antioxidant and a mixture of micronutrients for 48 h showed a great reduction in colony diameter reach to 52% with complete inhibition of sclerotia formation after 24 d of incubation. For more investigation, the treated sclerotia examined under SEM which showed germ hyphae alterations, includes, changes in measurements of hyphae, increased branches, reduce length of branches, retardation of the plasmolemma and collapse of cytoplasm. By application of this formula in greenhouse, the seedling stands up increased by 46.4% on day 6 and 60.9% respectively on day 14 over check ones. In addition to seedlings protection, treatments also improve plant height, fresh weight of shoot and root with clear increase in total phenol contents. In field experiment highest fruit production as well as increase in nitrogen, phosphor, potassium and protein content of fruits. This information sheds new light on environmental factors that influence plant-pathogen interactions, and may be applied to develop a management strategy for R. solani control based on host nutrition