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The effect of bio-agent Bacillus subtilus , nano titanium dioxide (TiO 2) and Zinc oxide (ZnO) as well as the combination compared with fungicide (Topas100) was investigated under laboratory (in vitro) and greenhouse conditions against powdery mildew disease caused by Podosphaera xanthi i. Most of treatments were strong to inhibit the spore germination of P. xanthii. B. subtilus and B. subtilus + nano-Tio 2 were the most effective followed by Topas100, B. subtilus + nano-ZnO, nano-ZnO and Nano-TiO 2 compared with control. Most of treatments significantly reduced the disease symptoms and diseases severity (%) particularly bio-agent, nano-ZnO and combination of B. subtilus + nano-ZnO, however, the fungicide treatment showed the best inhibition. As a consequence of treatments histo-biochemical and growth parameters of cucumber were changed. Reactive oxygen species (hydrogen peroxide and superoxide) were accumulated early. Chlorophyll content, catalase, peroxidase, and polyphenol oxidase activities were increased under various treatments, however, electrolyte leakage (EL) was decreased. The growth characters e.g. plant height, leaves number, fresh and dry weight/plant was significantly improved because of treatments. Combined of B. subtilus and nano-Zinc oxide treatment was the best treatment and promising to be an alternative to fungicide, consequently, decreasing the environmental pollution, cost and harmful effect of fungicide on human health. • Application of Bacillus subtilus as bio-agent led to improve cucumber plants under powdery mildew disease. • Combination of B. subtilus and nano-Zinc oxide treatment give the best results and promising to be an alternative to fungicide. • Hydrogen peroxide, superoxide and electrolyte leakage (EL) were decreased, however chlorophyll content and fruits yield were increased with B. subtilus + nano-Zinc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Probably the most known and best studied type of plant resistance to pathogenic infections is the hypersensitive response (HR), a form of localized programmed cell death associated with restriction or killing of pathogens that often leads to macroscopically visible localized tissue necrosis. It is generally assumed that cell death and resistance within the HR are physiologically and genetically linked. However, there has been considerable speculation about whether cell death is an absolute requirement for resistance conditioned by the HR. This review discusses the relation of cell death and resistance in the HR, in particular, the importance of cell death in this process. We intend to focus on the increasing amount of research evidence showing that in several plant-pathogen interactions, the two main components of the HR – resistance and cell death – can be physiologically, genetically and temporally uncoupled. In other words, HR should be considered as a combination of resistance and cell death responses, where cell death may be dispensable for plant disease resistance. The varying contribution of these two components (i.e. cell death and resistance) generates an array of defense strategies differing in efficiency. Thus, a very early and rapid defense response seems to contribute to the development of macroscopically symptomless (extreme) resistance, while a moderately early defense response results in resistance with the concomitant development of controlled and limited cell and tissue death (HR). Accordingly, a delayed and failed attempt by the host to elicit resistance responses would result in massively stressed plant tissues (e.g. “systemic HR”) and a partial or almost complete loss of control over pathogen invasion. The dynamic nature of resistance responses in plants implies that resistance can be effective with or without cell death but its outcome and efficiency may depend primarily on the timing and speed of the host response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]