Reduced-risk fungicides help manage brown rot and other fungal diseases of stone fruit

Authors

James E Adaskaveg
Helga Förster
W. Doug Gubler
Beth L Teviotdale
David F Thompson

Authors Affiliations

J.E. Adaskaveg is Associate Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, UC Riverside; H. Förster is Project Scientist, Department of Plant Pathology, UC Riverside; W.D. Gubler (retired) are Cooperative Extension Specialists, Department of Plant Pathology, UC Davis; B.L. Teviotdale (retired) are Cooperative Extension Specialists, Department of Plant Pathology, UC Davis; D.F. Thompson is Staff Research Associate, UC Riverside. We gratefully acknowledge George Driever, Staff Research Associate, for his contributions to this study; and appreciate financial support from the California Tree Fruit Agreement and agrochemical companies (Arvesta, BASF, Bayer, Janssen Pharmaceutica and Syngenta Crop Protection).

Publication Information

Hilgardia 59(2):109-114. DOI:10.3733/ca.v059n02p109. April 2005.

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Abstract

New reduced-risk fungicides are highly effective in managing both pre- and postharvest diseases of stone fruit crops in California, and they have replaced most previously registered materials. These fungicides have a low impact on the environment, high specificity to target organisms, and low potential for groundwater contamination and human health risks. In stone fruit, they can be successfully used to manage brown rot blossom blight in a new delayed-bloom fungicide application program for lowprecipitation years. In our studies, we found that fungicide treatments applied 1 to 14 days before harvest were also effective against preharvest brown rot and protected fruit from fungal decays initiated during harvest. Practices such as mixtures and rotations can be implemented to prevent resistance from developing and to ensure the lasting efficacy of these reduced-risk fungicides.