Effect of fungicides on Ramularia areola control in the cotton crop

ABSTRACT

Among the diseases that cause leaf spots in the cotton crop, ramularia leaf spot has become important in tropical environments since the weather conditions are favorable to the pathogen development. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of fungicides difenoconazole, triphenyltin hydroxide, trifloxystrobin, prothioconazole and mancozeb, alone or in mixtures, in controlling ramularia leaf spot in the cotton crop. The experiment was carried out in the 2014/2015 crop season, at a farm located in Sapezal Municipality, Mato Grosso State. Experimental design was in randomized blocks with four replicates and split plot in time. Seven evaluations of ramularia spot severity levels were performed with seven treatments. Fungicides were applied eight times, at 15-day intervals. At the end of the experimental period, the yield and the control effectiveness of fungicides were evaluated in comparison with control. Fungicide applications reduced yield damage caused by the attack of the fungus Ramularia areola. Triphenyltin hydroxide alone or in combination with difenoconazole allowed greater control of ramularia spot severity than the combination of trifloxystrobin + prothioconazole with difenoconazole, or diphenoconazole with mancozeb.

Keywords Gossypium hirsutum; Ramularia areola; DMI; dithiocarbamates