Sensitivity of Blumeria graminis f.sp. tritici to some fungicides in wheat (Triticum aestivum) cultivars BR 23 and OR 1 was evaluated in field experiments in the 2000 growing season. Disease intensity, based on incidence, severity and area under the disease progress curve, was assessed in seven, 14, and 21 days after fungicide was sprayed. The powdery mildew fungus showed sensitivity to systemic fungicides on both cultivars. The highest sensitivity of the fungus, based on the percent of disease control was to the fungicide triadimenol. Due to its short protection period sulfur showed no control potential for use in wheat. The yield reduction due to disease was 32% and 79% for cultivars BR 23 and OR 1, respectively. The disease control, even for susceptible cultivars such as 'OR 1', may be efficiently achieved using the recommended systemic fungicides. Insensitivity of the pathogen to the tested fungicides was not detected in the present experiments. Nevertheless, the use of low rates of fungicides to control disease should be avoided and the time of application should be at the economic damage threshold.
