Pumpkins, Cucurbita pepo Convar pepo var. styriaca is one of pumpkin varieties which produces thin layer coated seeds with the highest oil content Compared to other varieties.
In a preliminary study conducted during the years 1993-1994, it was found that the Fusarium solani and Alternaria are the two path60genic agents of damping-off and leaf spot respectively.
In this study, in order to determine the proper fungicides to control the above mentioned fungi, infection test of these fungi on the pumpkin were conducted.
To determine the effect of fungicides; propiconazol, Benomyl, Captane and 2 Carboxin. Thiram on F. solani and Captane, Benomyl, Mancozeb and Propiconozol were tested on A. alternate as Laboratory bioassays tests were conducted.
Results indicated that, according to their effect priority, the most effective fungicides to control the fungal growth of F. solani were Benomyl, Propiconazol and Carboxin-Thiram. However, the most proper fungicides to control fungal growth of A. alternate, were propiconazol and Captane accrding to their effect prioritly.
Pathogenicity tests of these fungi by artificial inoculation of Plant seeds and coteledonous leaves were conducted using spore suspention (in distilled water) of F. solani and A. alternate.
Greenhouse experimental result showed that neither of those above mentioned fungi could be effective to couse damping off or leaf spot problems in this Plant.
In more specified investigations, F. solani was found on the seeding infected roots as a secondary agent, and Pythium ultimum was more probable to be the pathogenic agent of damping-off in this plant.
A alternate, also had no detrimental effects on pumpkin under karaj climatic conditions.
Recommendation.
Due to the quick loss in pumpkin seed viability, recently produced seed should be used in pumpkin cultivation. Presowing seed treatment with Carboxine-Thiram and benomyl with a concentration of 0.3% and sowing the seeds in the moist top of the flat can be an effective method to promote seed germination and disease prevention.