Wheat blast, caused by Pyricularia oryzae Triticum (PoT) lineage, is a major constraint to wheat production, mainly in the tropics of Brazil where severe epidemics are more frequent. We analyzed disease and wheat yield data from 42 uniform field trials conducted during nine years (2012 to 2020) in order to assess whether the percent control and yield response were influenced by fungicide type, region (tropical or subtropical), and year. Six treatments were selected, all evaluated in at least 19 trials. Two fungicides were applied as solo active ingredients: MANCozeb, and TEBUconazole, and four were premixes: AZOXystrobin + TEBU, TriFLoXystrobin + PROThioconazole, TFLX + TEBU, and PYRAclostrobin + EPOXiconazole. Percent control, calculated from back-transforming estimates by a meta-analysis network model fitted to the log of the means, ranged from 43% to 58%, with all but PYRA + EPOX showing efficacy greater than 52% on average, not differing among them. The variation in both efficacy and yield response was explained by region and all but TEBU performed better in the subtropics than in the tropics. Yield response from using three sequential sprays was around two times greater in the subtropics (319 to 532 kg/ha) than in the tropics (149 to 241.3 kg/ha). No significant decline in fungicide efficacy or yield response was observed in nine years of study for any of the fungicides. Our results reinforce the need to improve control by adopting an integrated management approach in the tropics given the poorer performance and lower profitability, especially for the premixes, than in the subtropics.

White mold, caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, is a yield-limiting disease of soybean in Brazil. Uniform fungicide trials have been conducted annually since 2009. Data from 74 cooperative field trials conducted over a 10-year period were assembled. We selected five fungicides applied two times around flowering: dimoxystrobin plus boscalid (DIMO+BOSC), carbendazim plus procymidone (CARB+PROC), fluazinam (FLUZ), fluopyram (FLUO), and procymidone (PROC). For comparison, thiophanate-methyl (TMET) applied four times was also included as a low-cost treatment. Network models were fitted to the log of white mold incidence (percentages) and log of sclerotia mass data (grams/hectare) and to the nontransformed yield data (kilograms/hectare) for each treatment, including the untreated check. Back-transformation of the meta-analytic estimates indicated that the lowest and highest mean (95% confidence interval [CI]) percent reductions in incidence and sclerotia mass were 54.2 (49.3 to 58.7) and 51.6% (43.7 to 58.3) for TMET and 83.8 (79.1 to 87.5) and 87% (81.9 to 91.6) for CARB+PROC, respectively. The overall mean (95% CI) yield responses ranged from 323 kg/ha (247.4 to 400.3) for TMET to 626 kg/ha (521.7 to 731.7) for DIMO+BOSC, but the variance was significantly reduced by a binary variable (30% threshold) describing disease incidence in the untreated check. On average, an increment of 352 kg/ha was estimated for trials where the incidence was >30% compared with the low-disease scenario. Hence, the probability of breaking even on fungicide costs for the high-disease scenario was >65% for the more effective, but more expensive fungicide (FLUZ) than TMET. For the low-disease scenario, profitability was less likely and depended more on variations in fungicide cost and soybean price.

Fusarium head blight (FHB), caused mainly by Fusarium graminearum, is best controlled with demethylation inhibitor (DMI) fungicides during flowering. However, the use of premixes of DMI and quinone outside inhibitor (QoI) fungicides to control FHB has increased in Brazil. Data on FHB severity and wheat yields measured in field experiments conducted in Brazil were gathered from both peer- and non-peer-reviewed sources published from 2000 to 2018. After applying selection criteria, 73 field trials from 35 bibliographic sources were identified, among which 50% of the data were obtained from cooperative network trials conducted after 2011. To be included in the analysis, a DMI+QoI premixes or tebuconazole (TEB) were tested in at least 14 trials and three years. Four premixes met the criteria. Estimates of percent control (and respective 95% confidence interval) by a network model fitted to the log of the treatment means ranged from 44.1% (pyraclostrobin + metconazole applied once; 32.4 to 53.7) to 64.3% (pyraclostrobin + metconazole; 58.4 to 69.3); the latter not differing from TEB (59.9%, 53.6 to 65.3). Yield response was statistically similar for pyraclostrobin + metconazole (532.1 kg/ha, 441 to 623) and trifloxystrobin + prothioconazole (494.9 kg/ha, 385 to 551), and both differed statistically from a group composed of TEB (448.2 kg/ha, 342 to 554), trifloxystrobin + TEB (468.2 kg/ha, 385 to 551), azoxystrobin + TEB (462.4 kg/ha, 366 to 558) and pyraclostrobin + metconazole applied once (413.7 kg/ha, 308 to 518). The two categories of FHB index (7% cut off) and yield (3,000 kg/ha cut off), both in the non-treated check, did not explain the heterogeneity in the estimates. Two sequential sprays of TEB or one spray of pyraclostrobin + metconazole as management choices are likely more profitable than DIM+QoI premixes sprayed twice during flowering considering only the fungicide effects on yield.

Leaf rust (Puccinia triticina) is one of the most common diseases in wheat crops. For effective control of such disease, leaf application of mixtures of triazole and strobilurin fungicides is recommended. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of different fungicide formulations and numbers of applications in controlling wheat leaf rust in the cultivar TBIO Pioneiro 2010. Experimental design was completely randomized, 2x2 factorial arrangement, consisting of two fungicide formulations and two numbers of applications, as well as four replicates. Treatments were: azoxystrobin + tebuconazole, three and four applications; trifloxystrobin + prothioconazole, three and four applications; and a control treatment without fungicide application. For treatments with three applications, fungicides were applied at the phenological stages of: elongation, booting and flowering. ABSTRACTwith four applications, fungicides were applied at the phenological stages of: tillering, elongation, booting and flowering. The efficiency of fungicides on leaf rust control was analyzed based on the disease severity assessment by calculating the Area Under Disease Progress Curve (AUDPC). Severity data were obtained based on percentage scores of leaf area with visible disease symptoms/signs according to Cobb's diagrammatic scale. Fungicides with azoxystrobin + tebuconazole and trifloxystrobin + prothioconazole showed efficient control of wheat leaf rust (higher than 85%). For yield components, there was no statistical difference between numbers of applications, but there was a statistical difference between fungicide formulations, except for grain yield. Furthermore, for yield components, all fungicide treatments significantly differed from control. RESUMOA ferrugem da folha do trigo (Puccinia triticina) é uma das doenças mais frequentes em lavouras de trigo. Para um controle efetivo dessa doença é recomendado o controle foliar através da aplicação de misturas de fungicidas triazóis e estrobilurinas. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a eficácia das diferentes formulações fungicidas e do número de aplicações para o controle da ferrugem da folha do trigo na cultivar TBIO Pioneiro 2010. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi inteiramente casualizado, fatorial 2x2, consistindo em duas formulações fungicidas e dois números de aplicações, com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos foram: azoxistrobina + tebuconazol com três e quatro aplicações; trifloxistrobina + protioconazol com três e quatro aplicações; e um tratamento testemunha sem aplicação de fungicida. Nos tratamentos com três aplicações, os fungicidas foram aplicados nos estádios fenológicos de: alongamento, emborrachamento e florescimento. Os tratamentos com Barro, J.P.; Forte, C.T.; Trentin, D.; Scariot, M.; Milanesi, P.M. Eficácia de diferentes formulações fungicidas e número de aplicações para o controle da ferrugem da folha no trigo. Summa Phytopathologica, v.43, n.4, p.276-280, 2017. quatro aplicações foram realizados nos estádios fenológicos de: perfilhamento, alongamen...

Bean weevil [Acanthoscelides obtectus Say (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)] is considered the main storage pest of the bean crop. Its control is performed mainly by chemical treatment, which has potential to cause resistance in pests, as well as environmental contamination. This study aimed at evaluating the insecticidal and repellent effect of Salvia officinalis L. essential oil against bean weevil. The doses used for the insecticidal test were: 0 L t-1, 0.5 L t-1, 1.0 L t-1, 1.5 L t-1, 2.5 L t-1 and 5.0 L t-1 of bean grains. For the mortality test, the experimental design was completely randomized, in a 6 × 7 (dose × time) factorial scheme, with five replications. The number of dead insects was counted at 2, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h after the insect introduction. The repellency test was conducted in arenas, under a completely randomized design, using the same doses applied to evaluate the insecticidal effect. Counts were performed 24 h after the introduction of insects. The insecticidal effect of the S. officinalis essential oil on A. obtectus resulted in mortality rates higher than 95 %, after 6 h of insect introduction, for all doses tested. Repellency effect was also detected for all doses tested.

Soybean rust in Brazil is currently controlled with several commercial fungicide premixes composed of demethylation inhibitors (EPOXiconazole, CYPRoconazole, PROThioconazole, TEBUconazole), quinone‐outside inhibitors (AZOXystrobin, TriFLoXystrobin, PYRAclostrobin, PICOxystrobin), and succinate demethylation inhibitors (BENZovindiflupyr, BIXaFen, FLUXapyroxad). Here, we summarize the performance of eight premixes evaluated in 177 cooperative trials conducted in 46 locations across 10 states from 2015 to 2020. All fungicide treatments were sprayed three times starting at R1/R2. Percentage control (trueC¯, %), from back‐transforming meta‐analytic estimates of the log of the ratio, ranged from 56.2% (PICO + CYPR) to 76.8% (BIXF + TFLX + PROT). Estimates of mean yield difference (trueD¯, kg/ha) between fungicide‐treated and untreated plots were greatest for BIXF + TFLX + PROT (1,080) followed by PICO + BENZ (1,010), PYRA + EPOX + FLUX (981.5), AZOX + BENZ (910), TFLX + PROT (891), PICO +TEBU (682), TFLX + CYPR (646), and PICO + CYPR (600). Significant declines in both trueC¯ and trueD¯ in as little as 4 years were detected for AZOX + BENZ (35.3%; 550 kg/ha) and PICO + BENZ (15.5%; 359.8 kg/ha). Variance in trueD¯ was reduced by the inclusion of baseline severity as covariate. In trials where baseline disease was ≥70%, yield was 250 kg/ha greater compared to areas with low baseline disease. Disease control and yield response were generally greater in the south‐east, where the frequency of profitable scenarios was 30% higher on average than in the north‐west. Results of this meta‐analysis are critical for supporting decisions during planning of fungicide programmes.

Soybean rust (SBR, Phakopsora pachyrhizi) is the most economically significant disease for soybean worldwide, but mainly in Brazil (Godoy et al., 2016). Here, the disease can be more severe because the off-season (winter) climate does not restrict the survival of the fungal pathogen and the within-season (summer) climate is generally favourable for epidemics (Del Ponte & Esker, 2008;Del Ponte et al., 2006;Godoy et al., 2016). The disease was first detected in Brazil in 2001, and the impact on yield in commercial crops was devastating, but subsequently minimized with the use of improved control methods (Godoy et al., 2016). Severe yield losses, as high as 78%, have been reported in unmanaged field experiment plots conducted over a decade (Dalla Lana et al., 2015). Today, the combination of chemical,

Soybean rust (SBR) in Brazil is controlled with fungicides, which have shown variable, eventually declining, efficacy. A Monte Carlo simulation framework was proposed to approximate profitability depending on the fungicide program's efficacy and total cost. Probability distributions were fitted to slopes and intercepts of the disease-yield relationship and severity in the untreated plots reported in the literature, as well as historical records of soybean price. Simulations of disease reduction conditioned to predefined control efficacy and total application costs were split into scenarios that combined two categories of severity (high and low) and two attainable yield classes (high and low). These categories were defined based on the median of severity (57.8%) and median of the intercept (yield when severity is zero, 2995.1 kg/ha). Probability matrices were constructed relating fungicide efficacy and costs. A higher frequency of break-even events occurred in scenarios of high disease pressure and higher yield. Yearly simulations, starting with 79.4% efficacy, assuming two rates of decline determined for tebuconazole (high decline), showed that the program may remain profitable during the first 5 to 7 years of use. Contrasting to cyproconazole, a fungicide that would be profitable during the entire decade. These simulations can be useful to aid in decision-making when planning fungicide programs. This approach can be adapted to other diseases of soybean and other crops as long as damage functions are available. An interactive web app was developed to perform the simulations accessible at alvesks.shinyapps.io/rusty-profits/.