Silent blight creeps into Punjab's cucurbit fields
Downy mildew of cucurbits is a fungal disease that can cause serious damage under weather conditions favourable for disease development
Ludhiana, Updated At : 06:03 AM May 10, 2026 IST
The disease affects foliage producing yellow lesions on the upper surface of leaves.
Unseasonal showers and humid evenings have quietly set the stage for a silent invader in Punjab’s cucurbit fields. Over the past fortnight, farmers around Rajpura, Dera Bassi and Sangrur have begun spotting the tell‑tale yellow lesions of downy mildew on muskmelon, watermelon and bottle gourd crops, a fungal disease that thrives in moisture and threatens both yield and quality.
