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.