Field evaluation of strobilurins, triazoles and acibenzolar to control Sigatoka disease in Australia

Abstract

Strobilurin fungicides (trifloxystrobin, azoxystrobin, and pyraclostrobin), a plant activator (acibenzolar), and triazole fungicides (JAU 6475 and epoxiconazole) were evaluated in three field experiments in northern Queensland, Australia, for control of Sigatoka disease (caused by Mycosphaerella musicola). In all experiments, the strobilurins used, alone or in conjunction with mancozeb and acibenzolar, were as effective or better than the industry standards mancozeb and propiconazole. Acibenzolar used in conjunction with mancozeb significantly improved the control of Sigatoka disease compared to mancozeb alone. The triazoles, epoxiconazole and JAU 6476 were as effective as the industry standard propiconazole. In 2004, trifloxystrobin, pyraclostrobin and epoxiconazole were registered for control of Sigatoka diseases on banana.