Interaction between seed treatments, surfactants and foliar fungicides on controlling dry bean anthracnose (Colletotrichum lindemuthianum)

Anthracnose, caused by fungal pathogen Colletotrichum lindemuthianum (Sacc. & Magnus) Briosi Cav. is one of the main production constraints of the dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L) industry in Ontario. A field study was carried out in 2007 and 2008 to investigate the effect of two seed treatments (DCT (diazinon + captan + thiophanate-methyl) and MFA (metalaxyl-M + fludioxonil + azoxystrobin)) and two foliar fungicides (pyraclostrobin and azoxystrobin) applied with and without a surfactant under low and high disease pressure conditions at Exeter ON. Eighteen treatment combinations were tested in a randomized complete block design with four replicates. The treatment effects were examined by measuring disease development on leaf and pod tissue, pod destruction index, pick (discolored and misshaped seed), yield and return on investment (ROI). The seed treatment MFA performed similarly to DCT, and should be considered a suitable replacement to DCT for dry bean growers. However, utilizing a strobilurin fungicide in both seed and foliar treatments raises concern, as this practice increases the risk of disease resistance. The addition of a surfactant to azoxystrobin increased seed yield and ROI under high disease pressure, but had no effect when added to pyraclostrobin. Pyraclostrobin outperformed azoxystrobin for some disease indices as well as for yield under high disease pressure and for ROI under low and high disease pressure conditions. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.