Research Progress on Control Strategies and Resistance Genetics of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) Downy Mildew

Downy mildew is one of the most serious diseases affecting cucumbers.The pathogen is airborne, infects through leaf stomata and poses a highly destructive threat to cucumber production.Its presence has been reported in 80 countries worldwide.DM development is influenced by several environmental conditions, among which temperature and humidity are the primary drivers of disease progression.Existing control strategies can be mainly classified into physical control, chemical control, biological control, cultural control, and resistance breeding control types.Extensive research has focused on identifying genes that impart cucumber downy mildew resistance and on developing resistant varieties, yielding much progress.A complex genetic system governs resistance to this pathogen, and current studies lack consensus on the mechanisms of resistance, resulting in the development of only a few effective resistant cultivars.This article reviews recent advances in several key areas related to cucumber downy mildew, including factors influencing disease occurrence, diagnostic methods, control strategies, inheritance patterns of resistance, molecular markers, quantitative trait loci mapping for disease resistance, resistance genes, and disease-resistant breeding.The objective is to provide a reference for resistance gene research and breeding efforts targeting cucumber downy mildew.