New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science
abstracts
Short communication
Fungicide control of head smut (Sporisorium reilianum) of sweetcorn (Zea
mays)
P. J. Wright
New Zealand Institute for Crop and Food
Research Limited
Cronin Road, RD 1
Pukekohe, New Zealand
email: wrightp@crop.cri.nz
R. A. Fullerton
The Horticulture and Food Research
Institute of New Zealand Ltd
Private Bag 92169
Auckland, New Zealand
J. P. Koolaard
AgResearch Limited
Private Bag 11008
Palmerston North, New Zealand
AbstractA field trial was carried out to compare the efficacy of the
fungicides carboxin + thiram (Vitaflo®), carbendazim (Prolific®), tebuconazole (Raxil®),
propiconazole (Tilt®), flutriafol + imazalil sulphate (Vincit‘), and
azoxystrobin (Amistar®) as seed applications for the control of head smut
of sweetcorn (Zea mays), caused by the fungus Sporisporium reilianum (Sphacelotheca
reiliana). The trial was carried out in the Poverty Bay region of New Zealand
in a field that had a previous history of head smut. Carbendazim, flutriafol
+ imazalil sulphate, propiconazole, and azoxystrobin seed treatments resulted
in significantly greater plant numbers and increased early plant growth compared
with the untreated experimental control, carboxin + thiram, and tebuconazole
treatments. Plots in the control and carboxin + thiram treatments had a relatively
high number of stunted plants (<10 cm) 1 month after sowing (7.6% and 14.9%
respectively). Carbendazim, tebuconazole, propiconazole, flutriafol + imazalil
sulphate, and azoxystrobin seed treatments all produced low numbers of stunted
plants (0.4–3.1%). Of the plants in the untreated control plots, an average
of 8.7% were infected with head smut at harvest maturity. Seed treatment with
carboxin + thiram did not reduce numbers of smutted plants compared with the
untreated control. All other fungicides reduced the proportion of diseased plants.
The most effective were propiconazole and flutriafol + imazalil sulphate, which
respectively gave 2.3% and 2.4% plants infected with head smut. Carbendazim,
tebuconazole, and azoxystrobin were slightly less effective reducing infection
to 5–6%. Flutriafol + imazalil sulphate and propiconazole both offer alternatives
to carboxin + thiram for control of head smut of sweetcorn.
Keywordssweetcorn; Zea mays; head smut; Sporisporium reilianum;
chemical control; fungicide
New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science, 2006, Vol.
34: 23–26
0014–0671/06/3401–0023 © The Royal
Society of New Zealand 2006
H05092; Online publication date 19 January 2006
Received 11 August 2005; accepted 7 November 2005
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