ARS | Publication request: CONTROL OF BOTRYTIS CINEREA AND GRAY MOLD ON TUBEROUS BEGONIA WITH CALCIUM CHLORIDE

Submitted to: Phytopathology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: April 1, 1999
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: The efficacy of Cacl2 as a reduced-risk protective fungicide was compared with mancozeb, a conventional fungicide for control of Botrytis cinerea on rooted cuttings of Begonia spp. in greenhouse tests. Treatments consisted of uninoculated and inoculated begonia controls and begonias sprayed weekly with mancozeb and calcium chloride. Disease severity was evaluated over a six week period using a modified Horsfall- Barrett scale. CaCl2 and mancozeb treatments exhibited significantly lower AUDPC values than inoculated controls which had the highest AUDPC values. Disease severity was not significantly different between plants treated with Cacl2 and mancozeb. Plants sprayed with mancozeb exhibited significantly more visible residue than those sprayed with CaCl2. No phytotoxic symptoms or affect on flowering were observed on any treatments. Decreased use of conventional fungicides in greenhouse production systems is appropriate to address reentry regulations, worker protection and environmental issues.