Introduction
Powdery mildew caused by G. cichoracearum DC. is one of the most common diseases of melons (Cucumis melo L.) grown under both field and greenhouse conditions in Malaysia. The vast majority of melon growers presently rely on synthetic fungicides to control powdery mildew. Fungicides that contain active ingredients such as chlorothalonil, difenoconazole, triadimefon, triforine and benzimidazole are commonly used to control powdery mildew but with
variable degrees of success. The frequent application of these fungicides is associated with an increase in
environmental pollution, health hazards and development of resistance in microbial pathogens
The application of different products based on organic matter, such as compost and organic manure, has been popular since the 1990s. Compost can provide natural biological control of mainly soil-associated diseases , but the application of compost is currently restricted to rhizosphere application. Thus, researchers and organic growers throughout the world have used aqueous extracts of compost or compost tea (CT) as foliar sprays to minimise foliar diseases on crops including apple scab disease ; powdery mildew diseases on rose and tomato ; grey mould diseases on vegetables crops, strawberries, geranium and tomatoes ; damping-off on cucumber seedling ; bacterial spot of tomato late blight of potato ; common scab of potato tubers ; Choanephora wet rot on okra and anthracnose diseases on pepper and cucumber .
on pepper and cucumber