Fungicide control of Stenocarpella Maydis in the Nigerian Savanna

A survey of farmers' fields in the Savanna zone of Nigeria in 1999 indicated the presence of stalk and cob rots of maize at incidence rates of 15?–?43% and disease severity of 2.0?–?6.7. The causal organism was identified as Stenocarpella maydis (?=?Diplodia maydis). S. maydis was found to reduce seed germination by up to 29.2%. Laboratory and screen house experiments were used to evaluate the efficacy of six seed treatment fungicides indicated that Luxan (a local fungicide of unknown composition), benomyl (Benlate) and mancozeb (Dithane M-45) were more effective than metalaxyl?+?carboxin?+?furathiocarp (Apron-plus), carbendazin?+?maneb (Delsene M) and tetramethylthiuram disulphide?+?hexachlorobenzene (thiram?+?HCB) in controlling S. maydis. Stalk rot severity increased with increasing fertilization rates.     

Glasshouse evaluation of some systemic fungicides for control of clubroot of brassicae

Of nine systemic fungicides screened as soil mixes against clubroot, only the precursors of methyl benzimidazol-2-ylcarbamate (MBC) or ethyl benzimidazol-2-ylcarbamate (EBC) gave promising results. Benomyl was the most effective, usually giving control at 250 mg/kg dry soil. Most fungicides were less effective against an isolate of Plasmodiophora brassicae from Brussels sprouts than against one from rape. Disease control was slightly better on cabbage than on a highly susceptible rape variety.     

Evaluation of some fungicides for seed treatment and foliar application in management of damping-off of seedlings and blight of rapeseed caused by Alternaria brassicae

Eighteen fungicides were first evaluated for their effects on growth of Alternaria brassicae and for ascertaining their fungicidal and fungistatic natures in artificial cultures. The chemicals emerging fungicidal in action, were later evaluated for their efficacy as seed treatment and foliar application in the management of damping-off of seedlings and blight of rapeseed separately. Of 18 fungicides tested, six fungicides, viz., Dithane M-45, Dithane Z-78, Ziram, Difolatan-80, Blitox-50 and Benlate completely inhibited the growth of the pathogen and were fungicidal in action. Thiram and Brestan-60, which also caused total growth inhibition, were, however, fungistatic. Benlate (0.1 %) followed by Dithane M-45 was best seed-dressing fungicide for controlling damping-off of seedlings. Dithane M-45 (0.2%) followed by Dithane Z-78 as foliar spray was most effective for controlling the blight and increasing the yield in field trials.     

Laboratory bioassays to evaluate fungicides for chalkbrood control in larvae of the alfalfa leafcutting bee (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae)

Chalkbrood, a fungal disease in bees, is caused by several species of Ascosphaera. A. aggregata is a major mortality factor in populations of the alfalfa leafcutting bee, Megachile rotundata (F.) (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) used in commercial alfalfa seed production. Four formulated fungicides, Benlate 50 WP, Captan, Orbit, and Rovral 50 WP were tested in the laboratory for efficacy against hyphal growth of A. aggregata cultures. The same fungicides, with the addition of Rovral 4 F, were tested for their effects on incidence of chalkbrood disease, and toxicity to M. rotundata larvae. Benlate, Rovral 50 WP, and Rovral 4 F reduced incidence of chalkbrood with minimal mortality on larval bees. Benlate and Rovral 50 WP also reduced hyphal growth. Orbit was effective in reducing hyphal growth, but it did not reduce incidence of chalkbrood and was toxic to bee larvae. Captan was not effective in reducing hyphal growth or chalkbrood incidence, and it was toxic to bee larvae. Fungicides that reduce incidence of chalkbrood and larval mortality in this laboratory study are candidates for further study for chalkbrood control.     

Effect of fungicides on survival of Rhizobium on seeds and the nodulation of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

The survival of Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar phaseoli on seeds of bean was tested, using the cultivar Carioca. The seeds were treated seven days before inoculation with Benlate, Vitavax, Banrot, Difolatan or Ridomil fungicides. The rhizobial strains used were: CIAT 899, CPAC 1135 and CIAT 652. Strain CIAT 899 showed greater survival on the seed with fungicide than the other strains. Two hours after the contact with fungicides strains CIAT 652 and CPAC 1135 had significantly lower numbers of rhizobia than the treatment without fungicide. The Benlate and Banrot fungicides had the greatest effect on survival of rhizobial strains. There was a drastic mortality of the two strains, CIAT 652 and CPAC 1135, on seeds treated with Benlate and Ridomil. Under field conditions, granular inoculation produced fewer nodules, but a similar total nodule weight as seed inoculation. Serological tests (ELISA) showed that seed treatment with Benlate in connection with seed inoculation reduced drastically the occurrence of inoculated strains in nodules, while the same fungicide treatment and inoculation applied in the seed furrow did not affect the survival of the inoculated strain.     

The phylloplane microflora of ripening wheat and effect of late fungicide applications

Flag leaves and ears of spring wheat cv. Timmo (in 1980) and winter wheat cv. Maris Huntsman in 1981 and 1982 were colonised by a variety of micro-organisms whose numbers increased rapidly between anthesis and harvest. The predominant mycoflora were yeasts, yeast-like fungi and filamentous fungi which included Cladosporium spp., Verticillium lecanii, Alternaria alternata, Fusarium spp. and Epicoccum nigrum. Although similar species were isolated, their relative abundance on flag leaves and ears differed. The fungicide captafol was most effective as a protectant and significantly decreased populations of fungi on flag leaves and ears for 6 and 4 wk respectively, compared to untreated controls. Benomyl and Delsene M (carbendazim + maneb) were the most effective of the systemic sprays and formulations. In general, fungicides affected populations of yeasts, yeast-like fungi and Cladosporium spp. most while Alternaria was tolerant of all treatments. Yields of winter wheat were increased in two seasons by an average 0–2 t ha^-1 (2–4%) following a single late fungicide treatment at G.S. 50 or 60 and 0–41 t ha^-1 (5-1%) when this was combined with an early spray against foliar diseases (G.S. 38–40). Individual treatments increased yield by up to 12% with little difference between applications at G.S. 50 or 60. The yield benefit came mainly from increased 1000-grain weights. Germination of the treated grain was increased only slightly.     

The disappearance of benomyl from mushroom casing

The failure of Benlate (50% benomyl) to control Mycogone perniciosa on mushroom farms where isolates of the organism were benomyl sensitive was investigated. A comparison was made of carbendazim levels, the major fungitoxic breakdown product of benomyl, in unsterilised casing, autoclaved casing and autoclaved casing mixed with a small proportion (1.7%) of casing previously treated with benomyl but from which all detectable levels of carbendazim had disappeared. Added benomyl was effective in controlling M. perniciosa in autoclaved casing, less effective in unamended casing and ineffective in the amended casing mixture. The recovery of carbendazim from these treatments was directly related to disease occurrence. Studies on farms where benomyl or other carbendazim generating fungicides had been used indicated that a lack of control of M. perniciosa was associated with the disappearance of fungicide from the casing before cropping began. This was not so on a farm where carbendazim generating fungicides had not been used before these investigations. Thiabendazole, a fungicide closely related to the carbendazim generators showed only a slight decline in concentration in casing capable of degrading benomyl. Bacteria isolated from the casing were examined in vitro for their ability to degrade benomyl. Five groups of bacteria were compared and three bacteria, Pseudomonas putida, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and an unidentified member of the Entero-bacteriaceae were most able to degrade benomyl.     

Efficacy of benzimidazole and related fungicides against Rhizoctonia solani and R. bataticola

Five formulations of four benzimidazole derived fungicides, carbendazim, benomyl, thiophanate methyl and methyl 4-[2-(2-dimethylamino acetamide) phenyl]-3-thioallophanate were compared for their toxicity towards two pathogenic isolates of Rhizoctonia solani and three of R. bataticola. The isolates of two fungi showed significant differences in mycelial growth inhibition by the five fungicides. Benomyl and carbendazim were most inhibitory to all isolates of both fungi while the sesame isolate of R. bataticola was least sensitive to all fungicides. Disease control (90%) was obtained with low concentrations of benomyl against root rot of cowpea caused by R. solani, and with thiophanate methyl against root rot of sesame and sunflower, and leaf blight of mung bean caused by R. bataticola. The spread of stalk-end rot of sunflower heads was best checked with a spray of thiophanate methyl. The results suggest that benzimidazole fungicides having similar toxophores act differently for disease control in different host-parasite combinations.     

Contribution of Pathogens to Peach Fruit Rot in Northern Greece and their Sensitivity to Iprodione, Carbendazim, Thiophanate-methyl and Tebuconazole Fungicides

This study identified the main pathogens causing fruit rots of mature peaches in northern Greece, the major peach producing area of Greece. The brown rot pathogen Monilinia laxa was responsible for approximately 70% and 78% of rotted peaches in 2005 and 2006 respectively. Serious damage (up to 5%) was also caused with the fungus Phomopsis amygdali. Other pathogens isolated from rotted peaches at a low percentage were Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Botrytis cinerea, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Fusarium spp., Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Rhizopus stolonifer and Gilbertella persicaria. Most fungal isolates originated from the rotted peaches were tested for their sensitivity to the fungicides iprodione, carbendazim, thiophanate methyl and tebuconazole at label recommended concentrations. All fungicides inhibited the growth of M. laxa, A. niger, A. flavus, S. sclerotiorum, P. amygdali and B. cinerea on poisoned agar. Apart from iprodione, all other fungicides inhibited the mycelium growth of the pathogen Fusarium sp. The mycelium growth of Fusarium sp. was significantly less with iprodione than control. Only iprodione and tebuconazole were effective against A. alternata and R. stolonifer. Tebuconazole inhibited the mycelium growth of R. stolonifer, while iprodione reduced significantly in comparison to control. The mycelium growth of the fungus C. gloeosporioides was inhibited by tebuconazole and reduced significantly by the fungicides thiophanate methyl, carbendazim and iprodione. Among all the fungi tested, only M. laxa and B. cinerea isolates were found resistant to benzimidazoles [the EC50 (50% effective concentration) value was 100–200 mg/l and 200–300 mg/l for the largest number of thiophanate methyl‐ and carbendazim‐resistant M. laxa isolates respectively, while the biggest number of B. cinerea thiophanate methyl‐ and carbendazim‐resistant isolates showed EC50 value 200–300 mg/l and 300–400 mg/l, respectively]. However, these strains were sensitive to tebuconazole and iprodione. Therefore, these fungicides can be used as an alternative method to control benzimidazole‐resistant Monilinia and Botrytis isolates.     

Occurrence of strains of Colletotrichum coffeanutn resistant to methyl benzimidazol-2-ylcarbamate (carbendazim) and chemically-similar compounds

Certain strains of Colletotrichum coffeanum (the causal fungus of coffee berry disease) which developed in coffee plots sprayed in 1973 and 1974 with carbendazim formulations Bavistin and Derosal and with Folicidin (cypendazol) were resistant to these fungicides and also to Benlate (benomyl). Strains resistant to cypendazol developed in plots sprayed with benomyl but these were not resistant to benomyl itself. There were also indications of strains resistant to carbendazim amongst the population of saprophytic species (C. acutatum and C. gloeosporoides) colonizing coffee bark. Resistant isolates of C. coffeanum in culture produced colour variants by sectoring more frequently than normal isolates. These sectors were equally pathogenic to coffee berries and their growth was slightly enhanced on media containing carbendazim.     

Synthesis of Some O,O-Dialkyl N-[4-(N-heteroarylsulfamoyl)-phenyl]phosphoramidothioates as Potential Fungicides

Fourteen new O, O-dialkyl N-[4-(N-heteroarylsulfamoyl)phosphoramidothioate having thiazoles and oxadiazoles as heteroaryl moieties have been synthesised. They have been tested against two species of fungi and their fungicidal activities have been compared with those of two commercial fungicides, viz., Dithane M-45 and Bavistin.     

Effects of fungicide timing on control of Rhynchosporium secalis in barley plants

Sprays of captafol, carbendazim, carbendazim + tridemorph + maneb, diclobutrazol, triadimefon or triadimefon + carbendazim all completely protected barley plants in a glasshouse against R. secalis for at least 30 days. However, their effectiveness in preventing disease development when applied after inoculation differed: triadimefon, traidimefon + carbendazim, or diclobutrazol were the most effective, completely preventing symptom development when applied up to 5 days after inoculation to plants grown above 16 °C, and up to 8 days below 8 °C. All the fungicides decreased the number of viable conidia produced by leaf blotch lesions, and when applied to infected plants at G. S. 30, greatly decreased the upward spread of the disease under simulated rain conditions; the most effective fungicides in these respects were triadimefon and triadimefon + carbendazim. The above fungicides and fungicide mixtures, together with the recently introduced materials fenpropimorph and propiconazole were applied to diseased winter barley crops in winter or in spring. All treatments decreased leaf blotch development and increased yields. In most cases, a winter application was more effective than spring applications, particularly if applied in mid-November. The most effective fungicides were triadimefon and propiconazole. The field trials data fitted well with the predictions of performance indicated by the glasshouse investigations.     

Decreased permeability as a mechanism of resistance to methyl benzimadazol-2-yl carbamate (MBC) in Sporobolomyces roseus.

Mutants of Sporobolomyces roseus resistant to benzimidazole fungicides varied in their responses to 2-(thiazol-4-yl) benzimidazole (thiabendazole, TBZ), methyl 1-(butylcarbamoyl)-benzimidazol-2-yl carbamate (benomyl) and methyl benzimidazol-2-yl carbamate (carbendazim, MCB). Incorporation of [14C] MBC into trichloroacetic acid extracts of the sensitive strain S4 increased during a 2 h incubation period, whereas incorporation into the resistant mutant M55 was unchanged. [14C] MBC uptake by S4 cells was five times higher than that by M55. MBC was identified as the main radioactive compound inside the S4 cells and reached a level of 2.4 mug/100 mg dry wt. The compound MBC enters the cells of Sp. roseus by a temperature-, energy-, pH- and concentration-dependent transport system which may be specific for compounds containing a benzimidazole nucleus. It is suggested that tolerance of M55 to MBC is due to decreased permeability of the cell to this compound.     

In vitro screening of systemic fungicides against Phomopsis azadirachtae,the incitant of die-back of neem

Abstract

Phomopsis azadirachtae Sateesh, Bhat & Devaki is the causal organism of die-back of neem (Azadirachta indica A.Juss.) which is, presently, a major crippling disease of neem in India. Six systemic fungicides such as Bavistin (carbendazim), Contaf (hexaconazole), Beam (tricyclazole), Fuji-one (isoprothiolane) Roko (thiophanate methyl) and Downymil (metalaxyl) were evaluated against P. azadirachtae under in vitro conditions. Colony diameter, mycelial dry weight, pycnidial formation and the germ tube length of the pathogen were the parameters studied. The results indicated that carbendazim was the most effective in inhibiting the growth followed by thiophanate methyl. Among the different concentrations tested, carbendazim at 0.25 ppm and thiophanate methyl at 0.75 ppm were optimum for controlling the growth of the pathogen. Both these fungicides can be utilized for the control of die-back of neem.     

In vitro sensitivity of Verticillium fungicola to selected fungicides

Twenty isolates of Verticillium fungicola var. fungicola collected from diseased fruit-bodies of Agaricus bisporus from prochloraz-treated crops, were exposed to a range of concentrations of six chemicals (benomyl, chlorothalonil, formaldehyde, iprodione, prochloraz-Mn-complex and prochloraz + carbendazim) in vitro. EC₅₀ values were determined for each fungus-fungicide combination. All isolates were more sensitive to prochloraz-Mn-complex (EC₅₀ values less than 5 mg 1^–1) than to the remainder fungicides, and only seven isolates were moderately sensitive (EC₅₀ values between 5 and 50 mg 1^–1) to prochloraz + carbendazim. All isolates were moderately sensitive to formaldehyde, whereas the majority of isolates were very resistant to the other three fungicides (benomyl, chlorothalonil and iprodione).     

Determination of manganese‐ and manganese‐containing fungicides with lucigenin–Tween‐20‐enhanced chemiluminescence detection

A flow‐injection (FI) method is reported for the determination of Mn(II), maneb and mancozeb fungicides based on the catalytic effect of Mn(II) on the oxidation of lucigenin and dissolved oxygen in a basic solution. The Tween‐20 surfactant has been reported for first time to enhance lucigenin chemiluminescence (CL) intensity in the presence of Mn(II) (53%) and maneb and mancozeb (89%). The calibration graphs were linear in the concentration range of 0.001–1.5 mg L^–1 (R² = 0.9982 (n = 11) with a limit of detection (S/N = 3) of 0.1 µg L^–1 for Mn(II) and 0.01–3.0 mg L^–1 [R² = 0.9989 and R² = 0.9992 (n = 6)] with a limit of detection (S/N =3) of 1.0 µg L^–1 for maneb and mancozeb respectively. Injection throughputs of 90 and 120 h^–1 for Mn(II) and maneb and mancozeb respectively, and relative standard deviations of 1.0–3.4% were obtained in the concentration range studied. The experimental variables, e.g., reagents concentrations, flow rates, sample volume, and photomultiplier tube voltage, were optimized and potential interferences were investigated. The analysis of Mn(II) in river water reference materials (SLRS‐4 and SLRS‐5) showed good agreement with the certified values incorporating an on‐line 8‐hydroxyquinoline chelating column in the manifold for removing interfering metal ions. Recoveries for maneb and mancozeb were in the range of 92 ± 5 to 104 ± 3% and 91 ± 2 to 100 ± 4% (n = 3) respectively. The effect of 30 other pesticides (fungicides, herbicides and insecticides) was also examined in the lucigenin–Tween‐20 CL system. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Foraging and nesting behavior of Osmia lignaria (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) in the presence of fungicides: cage studies

During orchard pollination studies in California, we observed dramatic changes in nesting and foraging behavior of Osmia lignaria Say (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) after sprays with tank mixtures containing fungicides. A characteristic pattern of postspray events observed includes erratic behavior and interrupted foraging and nesting activity for several days. In an effort to determine whether fungicidal sprays were disruptive to bee foraging and thus to pollination, we exposed O. lignaria females nesting in field cages planted with lacy scorpionweed, Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth (Hydrophyllaceae), to selected spray mixtures normally encountered in California orchard production systems: iprodione (Rovral), propiconazole (Orbit), benomyl (Benlate), and captan (Captan 50 WP); the surfactant Dyne-Amic, alone and mixed with Rovral; and the tank mixture IDB (Rovral + Dyne-Amic + the foliar fertilizer Bayfolan Plus). An additional cage sprayed with an equal volume of water acted as control, and a cage sprayed with the insecticide dimethoate as a toxic standard. For each female O. lignaria, we recorded time spent inside the nest depositing pollen-nectar loads, foraging time, cell production rate, and survival. All females in the dimethoate treatment died postspray + 1 d. Before death, some of these females behaved similarly to our previous orchard observations. A high proportion of females in the IDB cage were inactive for a few hours before resuming normal foraging and nesting activity. No lethal or behavioral effects were found for any of the other compounds or mixtures tested. Our results indicate that the fungicide applications that we tested are compatible with the use of O. lignaria as an orchard pollinator.     

Experiments with MBC derivatives for the control of Dutch elm disease

Preparations of methyl benzimidazol-2-ylcarbamate (MBC) hydrochloride stabilized with HC1, MBC nitrate stabilized with lactic acid and MBC bisul-phate stabilized with KHS0₄ were made from technical MBC. As it was the least phytotoxic to elm shoots, the hydrochloride was selected for field experiments on the control of Dutch elm disease using 6 m elms. In protectant experiments using 1.51 of 0.25 or 0.5 % MBC per tree, only five of eighteen injected trees became infected while all the control trees were severely diseased. In curative experiments, injection with 0.25 % MBC 2 and 4 wk after inoculation with Ceratocystis ulmi kept symptoms to < 1 and 5% respectively, compared with 76% in untreated inoculated trees. MBC at 0.5 % Save similar results.     

The effect of eight fungicides on germination of Conidiobolus obscurus resting spores

Conidiobolus obscurus resting spore germination was greater than 60% after 21 days incubation in 700 ppm concentrations of Rhodiasoufre, Pelt 44, Dithane M-45, Plantvax, and Saprol. No germ tubes were produced under the same treatment with Bavistine, Quin 20, or Benlate at the same dosage. Germination in distilled water was 85%. After only 24 hr contact with Quin 20 (700 ppm) followed by a distilled water wash, germination was not reduced. A higher ability to penetrate the spore wall may account for greater fungicide activity. Resting spores were found to be more resistant to certain fungicides than conidia; however, no general rule could be applied.     

Chemical control of potato common scab disease under field conditions

The aim of this study was to evaluate certain fungicides against Streptomyces scabies (Thaxter), the main causal agent of common scab disease in potato and other crops, in vitro and in vivo. Fourteen isolates of S. scabies were isolated from naturally infected potato tubers showing common scab symptoms. All isolates were pathogenic to potato tubers and produced typical symptoms of common scab. Isolate (No. 11) caused highest disease index (DSI) followed by isolates 10, 8 and 5 (61.13%). Seven fungicides (Rizolex, Capitan, Moncut, Ridomil, Maxim, Topsin, and Oxyplus) were screened in vitro for their toxicity against the pathogen isolate (No. 11). Results showed that four of them (Rizolex, Capitan, Moncut, and Ridomil) exhibited inhibition zone ranging from 5.33 to 26.33?mm. Capitan, Ridomil, and Rizolex were able to reduce DSI under field condition but they varied in their effects. Capitan was the best fungicide which aids in the reduction of disease (33.8%) followed by Ridomil (31.5%) while Rizolex (21.2%) was the lowest one.