d. The larvae feed on the roots and stems of the plant while the adults feed on the cotyledons and new leaves in the spring. The insect can also carry bacterial wilt and cucumber mosaic virus. Pickleworm is even more dangerous than the cucumber beetle. These are mainly found in the Carolinas but can move north. The worms eat the leaf buds and flowers and tunnel into the vines and fruits. Once the pickleworm is inside the fruits it is impossible to kill them and will only be found after the cucumber is processed. These insects can be easily controlled with early detection and the use of insecticide.Diseases can be controlled through the use of fungicides, crop rotation, and resistant cultivars. If a cucumber crop gets infected with a disease it can result in a huge loss. Mosaic is one of the most common diseases. It is a viral disease that is also referred to as white pickle. It will stunt the growth of plants, mottle and yellow the plant and wrinkle the leaves. Young plants sometimes outgrow the symptoms. Insects and workers in the field can spread it. Scab is a fungal infection that causes sunken, dark brown spots on the fruits. A green mold can also grow over the spots. This disease favors cool weather. Bacterial wilt is caused by the bacteria Erwina tracheiphila. These bacteria wilt the plant and eventually kill it. Cucumber beetles carry it. These diseases can devastate a crop if not properly controlled.Cultural SignificanceSpaniards brought cucumbers to Haiti in 1494. They were then somehow brought to the Americas. When colonial settlements were being formed cucumbers were discovered in Native American crops. Cucumbers became very popular with the colonists but during the 1600s a widespread prejudice developed against fresh fruits and salads. Cucumbers were said to bring on a train of summer diseases and should be forbidden, especially to children. When diet reform swept the nation and emphasis was put on f...
