Use of Biological and Chemical Compounds for the Integrated Management of Apricot Powdery Mildew in Egypt

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate an integrated management program for powdery mildew caused by Sphaerotheca pannosa in apricot trees Prunus armeniaca, where four fungicides Copper, Carbendazim, Praiz and Topas) and three biocides ( Bio Z , Bio Arc and Activator Yeasts ) were evaluated in the first season 2020 in Ismailia and Beheira governorates in the regions of South Tahrir and Nubariya. All compounds significantly reduced the percentage of disease severity on leaves and flowers compared to the control, and the activator yeasts was among the best treatments, as it recorded in the last spraying a percentage of disease severity on leaves and flower 28.5% and 27.6% respectively compared with control 52.7 %and 56.2%, followed by the biocides Bio Z and Bio Arc.In the second season 2021, the compounds were evaluated during the flowering period, which led to their precipitation and the occurrence of plant toxicity for flowers at their highest rates with copper. As for the biocides compounds, they were completely safe.From here, an integrated control program was designed for two seasons 2022 and 2023 that combines fungicides and biocides. It is applied early before flowering. It gave excellent results, reduced the rate of fungicide use, and was safer and cost-saving.