Pseudoperonospora cubensis(Berk.& M.A.Curtis)Rostovzev,the causal agent of cucumber downy mildew,is an obligate parasitic fungus.Up to now it can not be preserved on culture medium.In this study,the sporangia of P.cubensis were preserved in protective substances of 10% dimethyl sulfoxide plus 5% skim milk,10% dimethyl sulfoxide plus 10% skim milk,sterilized water and leaves in vitro,and stored at-20℃,-70℃,and preliminary freezing at-20℃ for 24 h prior to-70℃ respectively.The results showed that the sporangia preserved in 10% dimethyl sulfoxide plus 5% skim milk,preliminary freezing at-20℃ for 24 h prior to-70℃ were still highly pathogenic after 12 months preservation.The percentage of germination of sporangia,incidence and disease index were 46%,50.0% and 40.0 respectively 9 d after inoculation.This method solved the problem of P.cubensis preservation.
