[Earthworm feces-induced systemic resistance of cucumber against anthracnose]

Pot experiment showed that mixing earthworm feces into soil induced a significantly lower (P < 0.05) cucumber anthracnose than mixing peat, but had no significant difference (P > 0.05) with the treatment of system acquired resistance. The activities of polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase in cucumber leaves treated with and without pathogen were increased in different degrees by mixing earthworm feces, compared with by mixing peat. All these suggested that mixing with earthworm feces could induce the system resistance of cucumber and suppress the plant disease via starting up the recovery enzyme system in plant.