The effect of benomyl on the infection of tomatoes by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici and Botrytis cinerea

Abstract

S U M M A R YIn glasshouse experiments at Auchincruive, drench applications of benomyl (100 or 142 mg per plant) to the soil surface around the stem bases of pot-grown tomato plants before inoculation with Fusarium oxysporum fsp. lycopersici reduced the penetration of the fungus up the stems and/or decreased the development of vascular discoloration and associated severity of wilting. Similar drenches applied after establishment of the fungus in the stems either halted or considerably retarded the growth of the pathogen up the vessels. This again was reflected in reduced vascular discoloration and wilt symptoms.In experiments with benomyl over 2 years at a commercial holding in Argyll, the application of soil drenches (at the rates above) shortly after planting out and again 5 weeks later, coupled with a programme of stem and foliar sprays (at 0.05 yo a.i.) during the summer, reduced the development of stem lesions caused chiefly by Botrytis cinerea and increased the general survival of plants more than did drench or spray treatments alone. There were indications that 'ghost spotting' of the fruit, particularly where spray applications were made, was also slightly reduced, but the magnitude of the effect was not consistent.

Studies on the fungicidal control of stem lesions caused by Botrytis cinerea on glasshouse tomatoes

“…The trial of fungicidal treatments on the commercial holding confirmed the results obtained at Dunoon, Argyll in 1971-2 (Channon & Thomson, 1973) in that the main effect of benomyl on Botrytis infection of the tomato stems was to reduce the total number of lesions rather than to affect their ultimate size. This all-or-nothing response contrasts with the results in the pot experiments where most of the inoculations caused some infection but the main effect of the test fungicide was to reduce the size of the developing lesion.…”

“…Among the crops on which good control with benomyl has been reported are glasshouse tomatoes (Anon., , 1974(Anon., ,1975. Channon & Thomson (1973) also reported reductions in damage and loss of tomato plants mainly from Botrytis infection when benomyl soil drenches and/or foliar sprays were applied to two commercial crops in small glasshouses in the West of Scotland. The present paper reports on the effects of methyl benzimidazole carbamate (MBC)generating fungicides and other materials on the development of Botrytis lesions from artificial inoculation of tomato plants in pots under more controlled conditions in the department's glasshouses at Auchincruive.…”

Application of Coconut Shell Liquid Smoke to Control Fusarium Wilt Disease on Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg.

“…The disease severity average of samples with chemical fungicide treatment decreased from 45% to 10%. This result is in line with the research result of Channon & Thomson (1973), that Carbendazim active compound can prevent infection caused by F. oxysporum by protecting plant cell walls. It makes coconut shell liquid smoke inefficient compared to the use of chemical fungicides that can inhibit the growth of fungi for a longer time.…”