Evaluation of strobilurins, acibenzolar and other chemicals, alone and in spray programs for the control of yellow Sigatoka leaf spot (Mycosphaerella musicola) of bananas in far northern Queensland, Australia

Abstract

Several chemicals including the strobilurins (trifloxystrobin, azoxystrobin, pyraclostrobin and DPX KZ 165), a plant activator (acibenzolar), the triazoles (propiconazole, tebuconazole, epoxiconazole, fenbuconazole and JAU 6475) and tridemorph, spiroxamine, pyrimethanil, fenarimol and various formulations of mancozeb were evaluated in three field experiments in northern Queensland, Australia for control of yellow Sigatoka of banana (caused by Mycosphaerella musicola). In all experiments, the strobilurins used alone or in spray programs with mancozeb and acibenzolar were as effective or better than the industry standards mancozeb and propiconazole. Acibenzolar used in spray programs with mancozeb significantly improved the control of Sigatoka compared to mancozeb alone. The triazoles, epoxiconazole, fenbuconazole and JAU 6476 used alone and tebuconazole in a spray program with mancozeb were as effective as the industry standard propiconazole. Tridemorph, pyrimethanil and spiroxamine were as effective as the industry standard mancozeb, and fenarimol failed to effectively control the disease. In 2004, trifloxystrobin, pyraclostrobin and epoxiconazole were registered for control of yellow Sigatoka of banana.