ARS | Publication request: FIELD EVALUATION OF SEED TREATMENT FUNGICIDES FOR CONTROL OF ROOT ROT AND DAMPING-OFF ON CHICKPEA, 2003

Submitted to: Fungicide and Nematocide Tests
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: January 1, 2004
Publication Date: January 31, 2004
Citation: Chen, W., Paulitz, T.C., Mcphee, K.E., Muehlbauer, F.J. 2004. Field evaluation of seed treatment fungicides for control of root rot and damping-off on chickpea, 2003. Fungicide and Nematocide Tests. 59:ST017. Available: http://www.apsnet.org/online/FNtests/vol59/top.htm.

Interpretive Summary: Chickpea seeds are always treated before planting to control damping-off and root rot. The traditional seed treatment includes Apron for controlling Oomycete pathogens, and Mertect for controlling Fusarium spp. and Rhizoctonia solani that cause damping-off and root rot. In 2002 we observed elevated levels of root rot of chickpea showing symptoms resembling Rhizoctonia root rot in cultivar Spanish White in the Waitsburg-Walla Walla area, and isolated R. solani from diseased plants. In 2003, we evaluated the effectiveness of six fungicide treatments for their effectiveness in controlling damping-off and root rot caused Fusarium spp. and Rhiozoctonia solani. The weather was generally warm and dry. No obvious disease symptoms developed. No difference in stand counts was observed. However, analysis of yield data suggested that the Kodiak treatment significantly increaded yield over treatment of Maxim, and Protege. The increase in yield may be due to growth promotion by the Bacillus spp. in the Kodiak formulation, although the effect of Captan and Alligiance cannot be ruled out.

Technical Abstract: In order to improve control of chickpea root rot and damping-off caused by Fusarium and Rhizoctonia solani, six seed treatments were evaluated for their effectiveness on a farm near Waitsburg, WA. The six treatments were: standard treatment (Apron and Mertect), Maxim (standard treatment plus Maxim), double Maxim (standard treatment plus double Maxim), Protege (standard treatment plus Protege), Blocker (standard treatment plus Blocker) and Kodiak (Captan, Allegience and Kodiak). Exactly 200 seeds were planted in each plot. Stand counts were recorded one month after planting. Due to warm and dry weather conditions, no obvious symptoms of damping-off and root rot developed. No difference was observed in stand counts. However, analysis of variance suggested that there were significant differences in mean yield among treatments. The Kodiak treatment increaded yield significantly (p = 0.053) over that of treatments of Maxim, Double Maxim and Protege. The increase in yield may be due to growth promotion by the Bacillus spp. in the Kodiak formulation, although the effect of Captan and Alligiance cannot be ruled out.