Efficacy, timing and method of application of fungicides for management of sorghum ergot caused by Claviceps africana

Abstract

Trials conducted in Queensland, Australia between 1997 and 2002 demonstrated that fungicides belonging to the triazole group were the most effective in minimising the severity of infection of sorghum by Claviceps africana, the causal agent of sorghum ergot. Triadimenol (as Bayfidan 250EC) at 0.125 kg a.i./ha was the most effective fungicide. A combination of the systemic activated resistance compound acibenzolar-S-methyl (as Bion 50WG) at 0.05 kg a.i./ha and mancozeb (as Penncozeb 750DF) at 1.5 kg a.i./ha has the potential to provide protection against the pathogen, should triazole-resistant isolates be detected.

Timing and method of fungicide application are important. Our results suggest that the triazole fungicides have no systemic activity in sorghum panicles, necessitating the need for multiple applications from first anthesis to the end of flowering, whereas acibenzolar-S-methyl is most effective when applied 4 days before flowering. The flat fan nozzles tested in the trials provided higher levels of protection against C. africana and greater droplet deposition on panicles than the tested hollow cone nozzles. Application of triadimenol by a fixed wing aircraft was as efficacious as application through a tractor-mounted boom spray.