Effectiveness of Fungicides and Their Application Timing for the Management of Sorghum Foliar Anthracnose in the Mid-Atlantic United States

Abstract

Sorghum anthracnose (Colletotrichum sublineola) reduces grain yield up to 50% but suggested management tactics have not yet been developed for the mid-Atlantic United States, where warm, wet conditions favor disease. Under factorial arrangement, five fungicides plus a nontreated control and four application timings were compared for foliar anthracnose control, yield, and profitability of fungicide use in grain sorghum over eight site-years in Virginia and North Carolina. Anthracnose severity was rated at the hard dough stage, and grain yield was determined at harvest. Every percent increase in disease severity resulted in yield losses of 27 to 85 kg/ha. Pyraclostrobin and pyraclostrobin plus fluxapyroxad reduced anthracnose (P < 0.01), and three applications resulted in less disease and greater yield compared with single applications (P < 0.01). However, three applications exceed the labeled maximum application for the fungicides and are not economical. Among single applications, boot or flowering timings reduced disease, and flowering applications resulted in the overall greatest yield. Results suggest that when disease onset occurs at or prior to boot, a single application of pyraclostrobin-containing fungicide at or just prior to flowering reduces anthracnose, protects yield, and increases income. However, when disease is absent or severity is low prior to flowering, fungicide application may not be profitable.

Efficacy of Two New Fungicides Against Colletotrichum Kahawae Infecting Coffee in Kenya

“…13 In a study on effectiveness of fungicides and their application timing for the management of sorghum foliar anthracnose in the mid-Atlantic United States, Acharya concluded that Pyraclostrobin and Pyraclostrobin plus Fluxapyroxad controlled anthracnose disease of sorghum. 26 These studies reveal that a combination of Pyraclostrobin and Fluxapyroxad is effective in the control of Anthracnose and other fungal pathogens.…”

“…The results of this study are in agreement with. 13,25,26 In a study on the in vitro evaluation of commercial fungicides against some of the major soil borne pathogens of soybean, Navi concluded that a combination of Pyraclostrobin and Fluxapyroxad controlled several fungal pathogens that included; Fusarium virguliforme, Macrophomina phaseolina, Rhizoctonia solani, and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. 25 In a study on the evaluation of pre-mix fungicide, fluxapyroxad and pyraclostrobin 500 sc against powdery mildew disease of mango (Oidium mangiferae), Ravikumar confirmed that the fungicide significantly reduced the disease severity and increased the mango productivity.…”

“…15 Pyraclostrobin active ingredient has been used for the control of anthracnose disease of sorghum, Septoria tritici, Puccinia spp, Pyrenophora teres and even Colletotrichum kahawae. 26 A premix of Fluxapyroxad +Pyraclostrobin active ingredients have been used for the control of several plant pathogens including anthragnose and powdery mildew which has resulted to an increase in mango production. 13 The same combination has controlled several other fungal pathogens including Fusarium virguliforme, Macrophomina phaseolina, Rhizoctonia solani, and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.…”

Silage Crops for Dairy and Beef Cattle II: Sorghum and Other Forage Crops

“…), head blight, ergot (head smut; Claviceps africana), bacterial leaf stripe (Burkholderia andropogonis), and rust (Puccinia purpurea). Anthracnose can result in yield losses of over 50% (Acharya et al 2019) and head mold can potentially produce detrimental or lethal mycotoxins. Most yield loss occurs from stalk rot pathogens such as charcoal rot (the same disease previously discussed with corn).…”

Understanding the Sorghum–Colletotrichum sublineola Interactions for Enhanced Host Resistance

“…Agronomic practices alone are not effective to reduce infections and yield losses due to anthracnose. Although fungicide application is an effective method to control the disease and reduce yield losses (Acharya et al, 2019), it is not economically and practically feasible for small-scale farmers and is not environmentally friendly. Growing sorghum cultivars resistant to anthracnose is considered the most efficient and is a core in integrated strategy for anthracnose management.…”